Abstract:
In the Synoptic Gospels, women are definitely not called disciples. The term female
discipleship exists only in Acts 9:36. According to the Gospel of Mark, the important aspect
of discipleship is following (e.g. Mk 1:18; 2:14–15; 3:7; 5:24; 6:1; 8:34; 9:38; 10:21, 28); thus,
although Mark in this case does not definitely call the women disciples, they can serve as
examples of discipleship. With reference to Jesus’ approach to women, the stories in the
gospel can be one of the resources, they show Jesus’ ways of looking and thinking about
women. Hence to understand the mission and teaching of Jesus, is to understand the gospel.
In such a way though, it is insufficient to understand it literally. In order to transcend the
limit of sociological and historical context, a new understanding is needed. This article is a
re-reading of the gospel and the Catholic tradition as one way to build further understanding
of women and men relations, especially on the issue of women discipleship. By doing this, we
can transcend ourselves beyond our socio-cultural, socio-historical even socio-psychological
context. Thus, a Christian, especially, who claims to be the follower of Jesus, has more reason
to be like Jesus.
CONTRIBUTION : An innovative exercise to develop a theological anthropology, by understanding
the dynamics of human personality, and developing a theology of the women-men relationship
in Catholic tradition, especially in this case re-reading the Scripture, to re-think the status of
woman-man discipleship in the Catholic tradition.
