Darlene's previous articles 

            Darlene Starrs (Canada)         

                                  2015-02-09 

And All Those Who Touched Him were Saved

(Comments welcome here)

  Darlene's background



 

                 

Todays’ Gospel Reading tells us of how Jesus encountered person after person who needed healing and to be saved. What can I say? We still need to touch Jesus.

February 4th to 7th was a plenary meeting at the Vatican, on the topic of Women Cultures: Differences and Equality. I was curious to see what news would come from this session. Pope Francis, at the conclusion of the meeting, reiterated, that "women need an incisive role in the leadership of the Church." There were no specific suggestions put forward.

Pope Francis also referred to Catholic Women as the "welcoming womb" of the Church. It sounds very, very, old and worn out to continue to associate women with the womb for everything, unless, we say, that women are pregnant with a fresh vision for the future of the Church. That this is so, naturally, requires much exploration by the Vatican with the rest of the Church, particularly, with such women.

From my standpoint, Pope Francis and the Vatican, and maybe even most of the people, universally, have not come to realize what God’s future purpose is for the women he has called and empowered. I repeat that the purpose has to do with creating a new evangelization, and until that message is heard, the Church might receive a facelift, but, not a transformation.

The transformation of the Church will come with a new emergence of our called Catholic women in many ministries, but, most importantly in preaching, and in ecclesial duties, hereto, assigned exclusively to celibate and married men.

Yes, given where we are as a Church with the issue of Women in the Church, we definitely need to touch Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus Christ has created many Catholic women as new wine and new wineskins. Let the Church, Institution and People, be touched by Jesus Christ, so that, our Catholic Women Vocations are fulfilled and the Church and the World are renewed! "Lord, send out your spirit and renew the face the Church" Let us be saved by touching Jesus Christ. Specifically, let our minds, hearts, and eyes be healed, so that we see what Jesus intends for our Catholic Women and the Church.

---------------