Love erases lines that separate and divide.

(Listen to my song “All Are Welcome” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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John 19:25

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.

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Women were very close to Jesus.

They were with him at the crucifixion when most of the men had run away.

They were living in his traveling community.

It would have been quite scandalous for women at that time to be part of this itinerant preacher’s posse.

Women were far, far from equal to men.

Their place was in the home bearing children.

The Gospel of Mark also specifically cites the presence of women at the crucifixion and as followers of Jesus: “There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome. These women had followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him. There were also many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem (Mark 15:40-41).”

Jesus was very inclusive when it came to women and all those who were seen as outcasts at the time.

St. Paul seemed to have understood what Jesus was doing when he said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

When it comes to inclusion in today’s Church…what would Jesus be telling us about women…as well as LGBTQ people?

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Listen to the song of the day “All Are Welcome” on the Give Praise and Thanks album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!