Guest Post: God’s Female Megaphones of Love and Justice by Brenda Noriega

Written by Christopher Wesley | Mar 23, 2021 8:00:55 AM

“When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’” (John 2:3) As a woman in ministry, I continuously feel pointing towards the needs of those I walk among. I believe paying attention to detail and compassion are two attitudes that come naturally to women. This does not mean that men are not capable, but women are natural advocators. During the “Protection of Minors in the Church” meeting in the Vatican in 2019, Pope Francis said that “woman is the image of the Church that is Mother” and that “ Inviting a woman to speak about the wounds of the Church is to invite the Church to speak about herself, about the wounds she has.”

We, women, are not afraid to see the deep wounds of the Church and her members and society. We raise our prophetic voices as many other women did before us like the Canaanite Woman, Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz, Dorothy Day, St. Hildegard of Bingen, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and so many others who did not make it to our history books but undoubtedly sustained and transformed communities, and for that, they remain in our hearts.

Some ideologies oppress our creativity and feminity, those natural gifts we have to offer to society and the Church for in whom’s image we have been created and not for what we lack or how we look. However, God in his infinite wisdom and creativity has opened spaces for our “feminine genius” and “in times when women tended to be most ignored or overlooked, the Holy Spirit raised up saints whose attractiveness produced new spiritual vigor and important reforms in the Church” (GE 12). Women in the Scriptures might pass “unnoticed.” Still, if we pay attention, we see them being prophets, paying attention to detail, transforming hearts, leading communities, and even changing Jesus’ plans or timeline. God has spoken and loved his people through Myriam, Sarah, Esther, Naomi, the Samaritan Woman, Martha, Mary Magdalene, Mary of Nazareth, Phoebe, Priscilla, Junia, St. Josephine Bakhita, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Mariana of Jesus Paredes, our youth and young adult ministers, our catechists and teachers, our mothers and grandmothers.

To all daughters of God out there, I want to encourage you not to let the world tell you what being a woman means, how strong, fast, thin, or pretty you are to be. God created you with beautiful qualities and gifts to nourish and heal our wounded world and transform society, building bridges with your prophetic voice, intelligence, and enthusiasm. To all my fellow female ministers, let’s continue the inheritance of courageous women before us who were God’s megaphones of love, justice, compassion, and holiness. Let us continue sharing our gifts and allowing ourselves to be God’s megaphones of love, for we still need more of that feminine genius in decision-making roles in the Church and all levels of society. Brenda is a Maryknoll Mission Promoter and formerly served as the Young Adult Programs Coordinator with the Diocese of San Bernadino. She is a speaker and advocate for the faith. Brenda collaborates in multiple regional committees representing young people and is also a member of the National Advisory Board for young adult ministry. To connect with Brenda, follow her on Instagram @brenda_noriega_yaministry

She has also been a guest on the YM Transfer Podcast. To here her episode click HERE

View full post