Mary Magdalene and the Women Disciples in the Gospel of Luke

Barbara Reid, O.P., is vice president and academic dean and professor of New Testament studies at Catholic Theological Union at Chicago. Mary Magdalene and the Women Disciples in the Gospel of Luke 9th ANNUAL MARY OF MAGDALA CELEBRATION Sister Barbara Reid, OP, offers a feminist theological reading of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of Luke, challenging the enduring myth of her as a repentant prostitute, emphasizing instead her depiction in Luke 8:1–3 as a key female disciple who, along with Joanna and Susanna, financially supported Jesus’s ministry and traveled with him during his public preaching. Sr. Reid highlights how these women were not merely passive followers but active participants in the proclamation of the Good News. She contrasts their faithful witness at the crucifixion and empty tomb (Luke 23:49, 23:55, and 24:1–12) with the disbelief of the male apostles, noting that Luke 24:10–11 portrays their testimony as dismissed as “nonsense.” Sr. Reid revisits her earlier scholarship to argue that while Luke includes more women than any other Gospel, he often restricts their roles in leadership and public ministry. However, by linking the prophetic voices of Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna in Luke 1–2 with the Galilean women’s witness in Luke 24, she proposes a more nuanced reading that affirms the theological significance of women disciples and their proclamation of the resurrection in early Christian ministry. Reid ultimately calls for renewed recognition of women’s proclamation of the Word and their vital role in shaping the early Church. Find a transcript of this event here: https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/bc1/sc... Learn more in a Crossroads New Testament course https://bit.ly/4cb7N7t or Saint Mary Magdalene https://bit.ly/40PFub7 If you would like to contribute to programming from the CSTM, visit https://bit.ly/cstm-innovation Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry *Video description composed with the assistance of MS Copilot