by Jenny Rodríguez Díaz
Colombian social organizations led by women are always the most vulnerable and least heard. Sometimes I wish God’s justice came swiftly and unquestioned the way Jesus dispensed it in Mark 5:21-29.
In this Biblical story, a woman was condemned by doctors and society to remain sick and excluded all her life. We cannot ignore this story in our culture that still silences women’s voices, isolates women, and constantly represses and trivializes the work of hundreds of mothers, sisters, and daughters.
This story dignifies women. The woman expresses the change that she wants for her life: “if only I may touch his garment I shall be healed.” The Greek word for “to heal” is “sozo” which also has the connotation, “to rescue from danger.” In the same way, strong Colombian women choose to have faith and serve as visionaries, dreaming of a just world, free from danger, where society opens its arms and welcomes whoever comes, just as Jesus did.
The woman in this story acted on her vision. She reached out to touch the hem of Jesus’ cloak. We see women here every day who take bold action to denounce(cont’d from page 3)that which is perverse and proclaim that which gives life, that which is to be enjoyed and shared by all.
When the woman in the story touches his cloak, Jesus feels it and asks who did it. The woman comes forward and Jesus says, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.”
This response is precisely what women leaders who have received hate mail and threats that degrade their souls are asking for. They are attacked simply because they have chosen to raise their voices, to make sure that their lives do not disappear from memory. They hope only to speak freely without fear. May God continue to protect them and may we all honor their struggle.
Rodríguez, from Colombia, serves full time with CPT’s Colombia team based in Barrancabermeja.
