Reflections on: Women Disciples of Jesus
Part 6: Women of the Early Christian Community
Eleanor Lincoln, CSJ and Catherine Litecky, CSJ
Courtesy of Ansgar Holmberg, CSJ
“All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer,
together with some women,
and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers”
(Acts 1:14)
By reflecting prayerfully on some of the women well-known in the early Christian community, we find inspiration to continue our own journey as disciples of Jesus. Throughout Christian history women have led lives of compassion, service to others, and prayer for the world.
We know from the Acts of the Apostles and the letters of St. Paul that women played significant roles in the formation and growth of the Christian community, the church. From the very beginning women were present. Acts tells us, “All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (Acts 1:14).
As the community continued to pray for direction, they experienced a remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit. “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together....Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2: 1,3).
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, members of the Christian community devoted themselves to prayer, to the breaking of bread in a community meal, and to care of the poor. Many men and women, both Jew and Gentile, who observed the love and care for others which the Christians practiced, became themselves members of the community of disciples.
Christianity had spread rapidly after the dramatic conversion of Saul (St. Paul) on the road to Damascus where he was traveling to persecute women and men belonging to the Way, the name given to the early church. Jesus asked, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). Paul, realizing that each Christian is another Christ, was filled with a great desire to bring the message of Jesus Christ to all.
One disciple, Tabitha (also known as Dorcas), “was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. Now during those days she fell sick and died” (Acts 9:36-37). The other disciples sent word to Peter, the acknowledged leader of the community, to come without delay. When Peter arrived all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks she had made while she was with them. Peter immediately prayed over her body, gave her his hand, and raised her up. He then called the “holy ones and the widows” (Acts 9:41) and presented her alive to them. At this time in the church ordinary Christians were called holy ones or saints; widows sometimes banded together to form an order. Tabitha may have been their leader.
How delighted the community must have been to have this prominent woman restored to life. From the beginnings of Christianity to the present, women, often widows, have served as pillars of Christian congregations and parishes.
Perhaps you know a woman in your parish or social action group who is always available to help anyone in need. Share with her this lovely story of Tabitha, and thank her for all she is doing for others.
St. Paul's first European convert to Christianity, Lydia, a wealthy business woman, heard the message Paul preached. She accepted it and received baptism. Like Tabitha and other influential women named in the Acts of the Apostles and the letters of Paul, she played a major role in the spread of Christianity.
Lydia first met Paul when he arrived in Philippi (present-day Macedonia) to speak to a group of women gathered at prayer. One of these women, Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, listened “and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying” (Acts 16:14). After she and her household had been baptized, she offered this invitation: “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home” (Acts 16:15).
The writer of Acts describes Lydia as “a worshipper of God” (Acts 16:14), that is, a gentile attracted to the religious ideals of Judaism. Although she was not observant of Jewish practices such as the dietary rules, she prayed with the Jewish community.
Lydia's decision to be baptized included all the members of her household, an indication that she was a person of importance. Her invitation to Paul and his companions to accept her hospitality gave them a place to use as a center for their missionary work.
After Paul left Philippi to evangelize other European areas around the Mediterranean Sea, Lydia's house became a meeting place where Christians gathered for prayer and for the breaking of the bread (Eucharist). They also cared for poor and needy persons. This house church flourished and continued to support Paul's efforts to spread Christianity.
One of the most beautiful passages in all of Paul's writings is his prayer of thanksgiving for the Philippians. You might want to pray these words:
“I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Letter to the Philippians 1:3-6).
Of the 29 persons greeted by Paul in the 16th chapter of his letter to the Romans, ten of them are women who served as his co-workers in ministry. Paul praises them for their hard work and leadership in their various communities. Two of the women, Phoebe and Prisca, he singles out for special praise.
Phoebe who heads the list of names is given three titles by Paul: sister, minister, and leader. She served as leader of the church at Cenchreae near Corinth as a woman of authority and responsibility. He introduces her to the Romans, asking them to “receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the holy ones” (Romans 16: 2).
Prisca, or Priscilla, appears several times in the Acts of the Apostles: in Paul's first Letter to the Corinthians, in his second Letter to Timothy, as well as in his Letter to the Romans. She and her husband, Aquila, a model of team ministry, figured prominently in the house church movement. In his greeting to them in the Letter to Romans Paul expresses gratitude to them for being his co-workers in Corinth.
That all of these New Testament women influenced the growth of the Christian church can inspire us to live as boldly and generously in our present time. The church in its current crises needs their example.
A disciple is one who continually learns about Christ through the reading of scripture. How does the bible, especially the New Testament, guide you in your journey with Jesus? Reading and reflecting on the gospel for next Sunday is a helpful way for you to deepen your discipleship.
As you conclude your retreat, pray with St. Paul:
“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus .... And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:6. 9-11).
You have now reached the end of this retreat, WOMEN DISCIPLES OF JESUS.
You may find it helpful to return again to certain sections that spoke to you.
You might also want to share this retreat, or parts of it, with other spiritual seekers in a prayer-discussion group. |
