The Role of Women in The Gospel of Matthew And Its Implications in Today's Church
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Date
2003
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
The purpose of this work is to find out whether the love of Jesus, shown to
women, one of the marginalized groups of his day, is put into practice in today's Church.
The present work has three chapters. To facilitate this study we shall need to begin by
looking at the position of women in Graeco-Roman Empire before and during the time of
Jesus. This is because the sacred writers of the New Testament, including Matthew, were
influenced by different cultures. In the first chapter, we shall look at Greek philosophy
and the Roman Law, without however forgetting what the Old Testament says about the
position of women.
Our intention is not to show a negative side of looking down upon women by the
Bible world. It is rather to let the reader know the impact of prejudices of the patriarchal
society on women in the Scriptures.
In chapter two, however, we will study how, Jesus, a male Jew, goes beyond the
bias of the Old Testament. Matthew presents to us Jesus who is truly human born of a
woman (1:1 — 18). We shall find out why Matthew includes in the genealogy only five
names of women among so many names of men. It will be considered important to know
motive of the author and the nature of community that was made of the groups of
marginalized people in the Jewish society. In this case women were not an exception.Thereafter, only when we have seen how Jesus preaches and heals both men and
women will we now seek to know any longer that he has no discrimination. In addition,
the Matthean Jesus sees divorce as an act of undoing what the Creator has done. Women
in return, as true disciples will not remain indifferent or passive. They will play an
important role by sharing a great sense of fidelity at Jesus' passion, death and burial.
Moreover, women will become credible witnesses of the resurrection by announcing to
the Apostles that Jesus is risen.
The third chapter will examine whether the teaching of Jesus is put into practice.
We shall, briefly, go through the entire history of the Church. We will consider the
Church Fathers. They tried to balance the Old Testament with the New Testament. That
is why they will allow both married women and virgins to play the key role in the
development of the early Church. Some names like Macrina, Paula, Felicita, Perpertua,
Monica and the mother of Gregory and Basil are unforgotten.
In medieval period, women in the Church will continue to struggle for holiness.
Though they are silenced, women will still remain active in Crusades, Monasteries and
mysticism. The role of Catherina of Siena during Avignon Captivity is a factor that will
make her a Doctor of the Church one of only three in the history of the Church.
The period of the Reformation and Counter - Reformation, we shall find that
reformers and counter — reformers were not only men, but also women. While some nuns
were leaving monasteries because of their brothers who forced them to do so, other
women had exceptional courage to remain in the monasteries, others joined religious life
not only as cloister nuns, but also as active women. While Teresa of Avila busy reforming the Carmelite Order, Angela Merici and Mary Ward are worked tirelessly to be
active in the world for the sake of the Church.
The Second Vatican Council will make way for women's active participation in
the Church and in the world. Its work has yet not ceased to make sure that women may
enjoy the threefold ministry of Jesus by the virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation.
The role of Mary as a woman in the Church, will not be left out. Her apparitions in
different places throughout the ages are significant.
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Keywords
Women, Gospel of Matthew, Church