Letter from our Dean
Greetings,
As a church we pay honour and affirm the women in our churches,
families and communities. The church is always depicted as
“Our Mother”. Women have always played an important role
and come top in terms of building families and raising the children.
We give thanks to God for the positive contribution of women in family lives, politics, economy and society. During July and August we celebrate and commemorate the following women and events:
July 22nd Mary Magdalene
July 26th Anne and Joachim (parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
July 29th Mary and Martha
August 9th Mary Sumner (founder of the Mother’s Union, 1921)
August 9th National Women’s Day
August 11th Clare of Assisi (founder of the Minoresses (Poor Clares 1253))
August 15th The Blessed Virgin Mary
August 27th Monica the mother of Augustine of Hippo 387
As a church we can look back and reflect on the stance we once took about the ordination of women. Since then we have come a long way in terms of recognizing the role and ministry of women. At the moment we have five women Priests and a good number of women in the fellowship of vocation (Diocese) and five lay ministers (Cathedral Parish). The same can be said of the radical transformation in ACSA we now have two women Bishops! I never thought that the Diocese of Swaziland would ever make such a move. I guess God is a God of humour.
About Mary and Martha, the two whose brother, Lazarus was raised by our Lord from the grave: they are mentioned in the Gospels as devoted friends of Jesus and more several times his hosts at their house in Bethany (Luke 10: 38-42). I suspect every woman has felt at times sympathy with Martha. While she did all the hard work of the Bethany kitchen, Mary sat at the feet of the guest. “Dost thou not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?’ She asked of Jesus. Jesus’ rebuke to Martha has come running down the generations, dividing the workers and contemplators, the doers and dreamers.
It is too easy in these busy days to be like Martha “cumbered with much serving”. The service to others is an important part of teaching, but not the most important. We have Christ’s word for it. Beware of taking on so many jobs that you have no time to think, no time to listen, not time to pray.
There are certain social and domestic duties that must not be shirked, but we must learn to do them with hands of Martha and the heart of Mary. You may have your hands in greasy water but your thoughts can be among the stars. Remember Brother Lawrence, who made his altar amongst the pots and pans of monastery kitchen.
But no matter how we spiritualize drudgery or how altruistic we may be, we cannot pay our way to heaven by mere performance of good works. We need to have a balanced spirituality to sit, Mary-like at the feet of the master, listening , watching and worshiping. As a church we can sometimes be so much involved in the work of the Lord, and not be involved with the Lord of the work. I believe there is that element of Mary and Martha in every one of us. Please encourage and affirm the women-folk in the Parish and beyond.
Article Written by:Dean Lazarus Mohapi