Male Preference

Today’s Gospel Text:   And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; 30 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation 31 which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel." 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; 34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:22-40

Reflection: Do you have an objection to it? Do you think that the scripture gives too much of a preference and importance to the male?

That’s exactly how some would have us believe with cogent arguments, apparently appearing to be logical but lopsided in its overall context. They would have us condemn God once again! 

This is what happens when we get too embroiled in the folly of sociological perspectives and its derivatives. 

(As it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord" vs.23)

Imagine a world where everybody wants to dominate and rule over the other because its equality.

It is and already, in many instances of our long history, when men and women in order to gratify their ambitions or on account of their foolish thinking have felt that they can do a better job than God.

These have ultimately turned out to be corrupt dictators or subtle seducers and manipulators for the gain of every kind of power. Thus here too they think that the called to be holy is purely a privilege to be enjoyed and a responsibility to be shunned. 

So too when a situation arises to face the brunt they have made others scapegoats and let the load off their heads through deceptions and seductions, either overtly or covertly.

The male has a different role to play in God’s society and this in no way takes away the equal status of women, as understood in the scriptural sense.   One of the roles he exercises is to serve through rule and not rule to serve. He does it abiding in the wisdom of God and as a steward of God.

The male bashing is a divisive voice in society which seeks to deepen the division of a communitarian life which we are called to live as Dedicated Disciples of Christ. 

Any call for equality on the basis of an illogical and untested sociological or impractical psychological perspective of the human being will lead to a society that is speeding its way to destruction and eternal damnation and is thus detrimental to the cause that one fights for. 

Prayer:  Lord, we pray that men and women seek your wisdom as they seek to animate the Church and society in which they live. 

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us