Genuinely

 Today I start with a quote from Pope Francis. This is a quote from a preface he wrote for a book on women’s leadership. “It is my belief that, as the research shows, equality must be achieved in diversity. Not equality because women assume male behavior, but equality because the playing field is open to all players, without differences of gender (and also of color, religion, culture...). It is what economists call efficient diversity.” ( https://aleteia.org/2023/03/08/pope-writes-preface-for-book-on-womens-leadership-full-text/) I start with this because I am still researching Mary of Magadala and Mary the mother of Jesus and I am struck by their doing the will of God did not mean they were “seen and not heard.” No they gave themselves to faith and pick up the yoke of being genuine. It was not easy and much of their voice is hidden in manuscript that are incomplete and not acceptable. Listen to the words of Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”As I research, I am reminded to be genuine. Conforming to this world is easy, the harder path is speaking truths and being genuine. Lord thank you for those who appreciate our genuine self and encourage us to be us. Grant wisdom, courage, compassion and wisdom to continue as who you created us to be and strength to get off paths of conforming on the path…