Read: John 4, 20
These days every organization, political party or other institutions are bent
on promoting safety for woman, to communicate to everyone the steps that they
are taking for protecting the rights and dignity of woman. Thus you have number
of news items coming up in the newspaper where you find news item of people
from holding candle light vigil, to street play, flash dance so as to bring the
message of highlighting the rights and also the plight of the woman today. But
it was two news incidents about woman empowerment, incidents that happened
thousands of miles apart that caught my attention. Last Thursday, the US military
leaders formally lifted ban on woman serving in combat positions. This meant
that from now onwards woman who serves US military would be allowed to be part
of the front line military roles like engaging in combat war. This was
announced by the Defence Secretary Leon Panetta who stated that woman have
become and integral part of military and they have always demonstrated their
willingness to fight war and that their contributions to the military's mission
of defending the nation has been unprecedented. The change in the military rule
will open up thousands of front line postings and also elite commando jobs to
woman. The White House has also endorsed this decision but there is mixed
reaction from the people with regards to this decision taken by the military.
Incidentally the second incident that caught my attention and was also beamed
on all news channel, and this also happened last week but thousands of miles
apart in the city of Mumbai. It was all about a scheme by a
political party to empower woman in the light of the gruesome assault of para
medical student in Delhi, which ultimately led to her death. The conception of
the political party Shiv Sena, of empowering woman was by distributing small
three inch knives and chilly powder to woman. The party sources claimed that
they had distributed almost 21,000 knives to woman in Mumbai and surrounding
areas. According to the party spokesperson, the distribution of knives and
chilly powder was a symbolic gesture that woman will not longer be silent
sufferers not they are not going to be mute witnesses when crime is committed
against them, and that they are going to protect and take care of themselves as
when a need arises. The party leaders have exhorted the woman to be brave and
not to shun from using knife if somebody attacks them and the party has also
assured the women that if in the aftermath of self protection, if they are
likely to encounter any legal issues, a team of advocates will be there to help
them. Though the woman in Mumbai are much more empowered while compared to
women from other cities in India, they also face abuse from all forms in
bus, trains and other public places and hence I think this move can be
considered as very bold. This is an an action consciously taken so as to
communicate that woman are not going to be passive any more and if need arises
even take rightful law and privileges in their hand. But I think along with
this so called self defense tactics it is important for the woman also to find
a new understanding of their identity, an identity that can help them to break
the so called barriers imposed by culture, religion or other institution where
discriminatory laws are formulated and perpetuated by a patriarchal
hierarchy. It is this quest to re discover their identify which will help both
men and woman to be co workers and building of a society that replicates the
image of God's kingdom where both men and woman are equal in the sight of God
in term of gender, the roles that they play in the different institutions that
they are placed.
When we study the word of God, especially when we carefully examine the
ministry of Jesus Christ we will always find that He consciously empowered
woman by helping in their search for a new identity, that helped them to redefine
their life. There are two notable examples in the gospels, where women after
encountering Jesus, are thrilled at the new identity that the Lord gave to
them. The first incident is mentioned in John 4 while the next incident that is
similar to John 4 is mentioned in John 20. In the first incident in John 4, a
Samaritan woman encounters woman. Through the encounter, her life is changed
and she has a new understanding of worship, a new understanding of who the
messiah is. In John 4 39-42, we find the Samaritan woman going to her village
and telling them about the new found discovery not only in terms of the message
but also in terms of the person. She communicates the message of the gospel to
the village and soon many Samaritans believed in Jesus Christ and request Jesus
Christ to stay with them. A woman who casually came to fetch water goes back to
village not with pot of water, but with a new found identity of who she is and
also a new found purpose through the joy of knowing the Lord. In the same way
in John 20, we find Mary Magdalene encountering Jesus Christ soon after his
resurrection. Because of her commitment and love for the Lord, she is the
first one to come to the tomb where the body of Jesus was laid and she is in
for a surprise. She has the privilege of being the first person to witnesses
the risen Christ. Amazed and dumbstruck she cant believe her eyes and that is
when Jesus gives her a mission. She is commanded by the Lord to go and
communicate to the other disciples that Jesus Christ is risen. Mary is so
enthusiastic and she runs to the disciples to tell them about the good news but
the disciples did not believe Mary [ Luke 24: 10]. Here is Mary with a newfound
identity and purpose in life. A life that was in tatters due to consequences of
sin, is redeemed by Jesus Christ. This redeemed life now has a new found
identity in Jesus Christ and new purpose of being messengers of gospel. I think
what is needed in all of us, especially the women so as to help each of them
find an identity that totally liberates them from the confines and
discriminatory rules or cultural barriers of a patriarchal society. This will
help them to rediscover the freedom and right to live in ways and manner
that are responsible and whereby they are able to contribute creatively without
any discrimination or abuse to the well being of every individual, family,
other institutions that they are involved in. This will not only help in the
process of strengthening the social fabric but strengthen the social
structure, whereby every individual whether man or woman is respected and their
individual and corporate rights affirmed and upheld.