Accompanying [Jesus] were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out. The image of Jesus’ chosen companions, beside the twelve, including women continues to challenge the Church today. Do we treat women as equals to the men disciples as the gospel implies that Jesus did? Then there is the “seven demons” business. Men commenting on this have put the worse possible interpretation which somehow transformed Mary Magdalene into a prostitute. I heard a talk once that suggested the “seven demons” were things like low self-esteem, poor self-image, shame, guilt, lack of confidence, passivity. depression. Jesus’ healing power was not limited to curing blindness or leprosy. It included bringing a person to wholeness. And because the women companions shared in the power of saving Christ they were worthy to walk with Jesus in his life and to serve him fully in the Church to this very day.
