St. Luke goes out of his way to highlight the role of women in the mission of Jesus. To the story of a man planting a seed, he adds that of a woman making bread. When a shepherd goes looking for a lost sheep, a housewife goes looking for a lost coin. When he talks about Peter, James and John companioning Jesus he adds a story of Martha and Mary as his friends. After talking about the twelve apostles he mentions Mary Magdalene and the other women who supported Jesus’ ministry. The stories are not invented but part of the Jesus tradition that might have gotten lost but for Luke. We as church need to recognize the rightful place of women in service and leadership.