Context
Women take centre stage in this week’s news. The Oscar ceremony called for more inclusion and female empowerment in Hollywood.
This week also sees the celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2017, which champions women’s rights. For many UK women, this year’s event is a further opportunity to celebrate the centenary anniversary of women gaining the vote.
This Sunday is Mothering Sunday, which honours the role of mothers in society.
Finally, this week sees the release (in some towns and cities) of the Hollywood film Mary Magdalene, starring Rooney Mara as the noted biblical figure and Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus.
Reflection
The new Mary Magdalene movie, which includes notable ‘A-list’ actors, styles itself as a ‘revisioning’ of the relationship between Jesus and the second most mentioned woman in the New Testament (after Jesus’ mother, Mary). Tradition has often cast Mary Magdalene as a ‘fallen woman’ – a possible prostitute – rather than a woman who the Catholic Church now considers on par with the disciples. The film portrays Mary Magdalene as a ‘fiercely intelligent, resourceful woman who rejected the male norms of marriage and children laid down for her, and insisted on following Jesus’.
In today’s reading, another fiercely intelligent person, Nicodemus, who Jesus calls ‘Israel’s teacher’, sets aside the incredulity of his fellow Pharisees, to visit Jesus at night. The ensuing conversation sees Jesus take the great teacher ‘to school’ – he gives the leading Pharisee a lesson in the concept of spiritual rebirth.
The Gospels are replete with accounts of Jesus’ encounters with a range of individuals, which took place in various locations, at all times of the day, and with all kinds of people. In the next chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus has a midday meeting with an unnamed Samaritan woman at a well, and talks to her about ‘life-giving water’. Indeed, the four Gospels reveal his many and varied interactions with women, and clearly relate that he was first seen by women after his resurrection. (Jesus also commissioned these women to tell his disciples that he had risen from the dead.) It is clear that he valued women, akin to every other segment of that society.
A sociologist would submit that Jesus was ‘demographically inclusive’ in his ‘methodological approach’, as he engaged with genders, ages, ethnic and religious communities (Samaritans), and of those of differing socio-economic backgrounds (from beggars to tax collectors).
It can be argued that we have never taken a leaf out of his book and are still struggling to discover how we can make our societies more reflective of their composition. For instance, Hollywood, which many consider a bastion of liberal ideals, was berated by Oscar winner, Frances McDormand, for its reluctance to take the project ideas and talent of women seriously. Equally, International Women’s Day’s raison d'être is gender equality and inclusion – even in the so-called liberal West; while Mothering Sunday is a much-needed opportunity to acknowledge and affirm the role of mothers in what many consider our patriarchal society.
It has often been said that rather than lead society, the church invariably reflects it, or even follows it. The question for the church is, how can it imitate Jesus’ example and be more inclusive in its engagement with those whom it must engage?
Prayer
This prayer can be used at the end of a service
Dear Lord,
we consider your love for all those you encountered during your time on earth;
those you taught, touched and healed,
and how their lives were never the same after meeting you.
You engaged with the young and the old, male and female,
the powerful and the powerless – with a message of hope and transformation.
We consider our world, which is so in need of your love,
and ponder our response, which is often lacking.
We ask that you change our apathy into activity,
and diffidence into making a difference,
so that everyone will feel included and valued
in a world that has the potential to become the one you made.
This we ask in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Questions
- Scholars suggest Nicodemus visited Jesus at night because he did not want his fellow religious leaders to see him consort with someone who they deemed controversial. Are there any other reasons why he may have chosen to visit Jesus at this time of day?
- Jesus not only engaged with all segments of society, he appeared to have all the time in the world to do so. What can we learn from him in terms of how we use our time to engage with others?
All-age activity
The Bible is full of stories of great mothers. For Mothering Sunday, devise a quiz called ‘Guess who’s the famous Bible mother’. Assemble a list of Bible mothers (which can be a job in itself!), and provide clues for each character such as: ‘She gave birth to twins, one of whom deceived his brother (Rebecca). Or, ‘She placed her son in a basket, which now bears his name’ (Jochebed). Divide the congregation into several groups, and give two points for each correct answer.
Young people
Organise a group visit to the cinema to see the new ‘Mary Magdalene’ film. Afterwards, discuss the portrayal of the central character. Does Mary’s apparent ‘refusal to marry and have children’ make her a first century feminist? Likewise, is it appropriate to apply modern-day sensibilities to historical, biblical characters? And finally, how would you characterise Mary’s relationship with Jesus and the disciples?
Richard Reddie is a writer and cultural commentator. He attends St James Church (CofE) West Streatham, London.
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