Born Free, Born Equal: Celebrating Human Rights - World YWCA

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All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination toequal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against anydiscrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement tosuch discrimination.(Universal Declaration of <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> – Article 7)DAY 2: WOMEN’S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTSReading: Luke 24:1-12“Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, andthe other women with them who told this to the apostles.” Luke 24:10What do we know about the women by the cross and at the resurrection ofJesus?Only Luke speaks about the multitude of women at Easter; the womendisciples followed Jesus from Galilee and escorted him in his final journeyto Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. During the passion, the women ‘stoodat a distance’ (Luke 23:49) because of the barricade of Roman soldiers thatprevented them from coming closer to Jesus; but Peter followed Jesus fromafar to conceal that he knew him. The women were present from thebeginning to the end—demonstrating a love for Jesus that makes themfaithful and courageous in spite of the circumstances.The women standing by the cross had been restored by Jesus; he hadgiven them back life (the daughter of Jairus) and the dignity of a daughter(the woman with the flow of blood and the bent over woman). They werenot dead, impure or bent over—they were standing on their feet.Amidst his pain, Jesus had the consolation of the company of women.It is interesting to note that in several passages of the Gospel women neverrestrained themselves when anointing Jesus. They were always generousand poured on him the most expensive perfumes, without holding back(John 12:3; Luke 7:38; John 11:2). It is also interesting to note that therewere men who criticised the behaviour of the women (Simon the Pharisee,Judas Iscariot). In both cases, Jesus rebuked the men and wholly approvedof the loving gesture of the women.8
They anointed him when he was alive and were willing to anoint him nowthat he was dead.Women are able to experience Easter in a different way from men; womenlive Easter each month in their bodies. When they found Jesus’ tombempty, the Galilean women believed that God had resurrected God’s son.Why wouldn’t they believe it when, after all, they had seen Jesusresurrecting a girl (Luke 8:51-56), a boy (Luke 7:11-17), and a man (John11:43)?Immediately they went to see the 11 disciples and the others to announcethe resurrection of the Christ. Luke mentions that the group included MaryMagdalene, Joanna and Mary the mother of James. But how sad! All theirwords seemed “an idle tale” to the men and they did not believe them (Luke24:9-11).Perhaps the 12 disciples never really understood that Jesus was seriouswhen he referred to the equality of all people in his reign. Maybe theythought that Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well (John 4), hismerciful acts of healing women (Luke 8:46-56), his words rejecting thatfemale anatomy determines one’s ‘fate’ (Luke 11:27-28) and his revelationto the women at the tomb were mere coincidences?The curtain of the Temple was torn in two at the death of Jesus (Luke23:45). There are no more privileged places. The women entered into theNew Alliance, in the same upper room where the apostles live, praying withthem in the same spirit. The Holy Spirit pours on everybody—men andwomen. This is a great contrast with the Old Covenant. It breaks with thediscrimination of women in the Synagogue and in the Temple. In theChurch of Christ there is no more division.We cannot deny that Jesus chose women to be witnesses of hisresurrection. In Matthew’s Gospel (28:9-10) and John’s (20:1-18) we findthe last words of Jesus to the women, which are as his will and farewell:“Woman, why are you weeping…?”“God be with you!”“Do not be afraid…”“Go, and tell my brothers… Go to my brothers and say to them…”9
Page 1 and 2: World YWCA and YMCAWeek of Prayer a
Page 3 and 4: PRESIDENTS’ MESSAGEDear sisters a
Page 5 and 6: Everyone is entitled to all the rig
Page 7: Acknowledgement: Excerpts from Kare
Page 11 and 12: Everyone has the right to a standar
Page 13 and 14: For Group DiscussionThe widow repre
Page 15 and 16: very drastically. The denarius they
Page 17 and 18: Everyone is entitled to a social an
Page 19 and 20: (Exodus. 3:7). The cry of the poor
Page 21 and 22: Since environmental degradation is
Page 23 and 24: “We are hoping to make a contribu
Page 25 and 26: As the wind moves and dances around
Page 27 and 28: HUMAN RIGHTS RESOURCESAbout the Uni
Page 29 and 30: determined by law solely for the pu
Page 31 and 32: February 20091. Psm 92. Lk 8,4-153.
Page 33 and 34: 21. Acts 28,1-1622. Acts 28,17-3123

Born Free, Born Equal: Celebrating Human Rights - World YWCA

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