Abigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, one of the founding fathers. He met in Philadelphia with the rest and worked as an ambassador to France, England and Holland while she kept their family together in Massachusetts. She was a great correspondent and her letters are very incisive. As her husband was trying to build a new nation she offered this advice: “Remember the ladies and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors.” I wonder if Mrs. Luke was not whispering in his ear while he was writing the third gospel “remember the ladies.” Certainly women are featured players in the story of Jesus in a much greater way in his account that that of the other evangelists. Only Luke records: Accompanying him 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, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others. As we are preparing for the Synod on Synodality Pope Francis is remembering the ladies. For the first time, women will be voting members during a synod. The church can only benefit when the full range of its giftedness — men and women — can make their contribution.
