In today's reading, Luke gives testimony to the freedom of the Gospel.

The scene gives an image of the infant Church. It is on the move and made up of ordinary men and women centred on Jesus.

The men Jesus chose were quite an unlikely group - public sinners, of lowly background, mostly uneducated, some were political radicals even, but all this paled against the fact that He had women travel companions who provided for them out of their own fund!!

Jesus pays no attention to the universally accepted prejudices against the poor, the public sinners and women. So, they take Jesus' words and attitude as a call to freedom and become His intimate friends and followers.

Luke is the only Gospel writer who gives details of the women who travelled with Jesus. Mary of Magdala will be at the foot of the cross along with Mary, the wife of Cleophas, the mother of James and Joset. These two Marys, along with Joanna, will receive the first news of the Resurrection (Lk 24:10)

Lord Jesus, may Your words and deeds help me be free from cultural and racial prejudices. May our Church be Your truly human and loving body.