Joy to the Women! An Advent Proclamation
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Ah, Advent!
Along with Christmas, Advent is the glorious and only time of year when Christians across the theological spectrum can agree on women’s participation in God’s work.
In Advent, we acknowledge the strong-willed, outsider women who shaped Jesus’ lineage (especially Tamar, Rahab and Ruth in Matthew 1:1-5). Let the day quickly come when the Church heeds women’s voices speaking prophetically from the margins!
Judah and Tamar by Tissot, p.d.
Rahab’s Red Cord by David Hayward, used with permission.
Ruth in the fields of Boaz by von Carolsfeld, p.d.
In Advent, we listen to Elizabeth preach the good
news of God’s coming (Luke 1:41-45). Let this season mark the entrance
of gospel-preaching women into the Church’s pulpits!
The Visitation by Albertinelli, p.d.
In Advent, we allow Mary
to lead us in prayer (Luke 1:46-55), we believe her when she has a
vision (Luke 1:26-38), and at Christmas we support her as she gives
birth to God (Luke 2:7). Let the day draw near when the Church no longer
contests women’s power to dream of new and creative life!
Joy to the women this Advent season, and prayers for God’s mercy on the Church for its exclusion of women’s voices and ministries!
Annunciazione by Matthias Stom, p.d.
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*Church here (capital “C”) identifies the entire Christian body, including all branches and denominations and theologies that claim Jesus as the Christ; church (little “c”) describes an individual congregation.
For more inspiration, we invite you to visit our archived series, The Women of Advent, featuring posts on Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba, Ruth, and Mary.*Church here (capital “C”) identifies the entire Christian body, including all branches and denominations and theologies that claim Jesus as the Christ; church (little “c”) describes an individual congregation.
The post “Joy to the Women” was originally published on the Huffington Post Blog and is used with permission.
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