The Role of Women in the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ

Photo source: The Passion of the Christ (2004)

“There is your mother.”

These are the words of Jesus to His Mother and the disciple whom he loved while he was hanging on the cross. He entrusted the disciple, who represents all believers, to Mary, the Mother of all believers. Mary has been entrusted with a mission to become the Mother of the Son of God and at the Cross she becomes the Mother of all believers.

The role of women in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ may not be highlighted nevertheless very prominent. The Gospels sum up their participation: they followed Him and saw to His needs. From His public ministry until the resurrection, they followed Him. St. John identifies women at the foot of the cross as “his Mother, his mother’s sister Mary, the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala.”

As we dedicate Women’s month this March let us recognize the prominence of women in their various roles in the Church and in our society as mothers, child bearers, caregivers, formators, counselors, leaders, etc. Like the women in the gospel the challenge is to follow Jesus and to participate in His mission.