Filled with a holy and fruitful envy

I saw this post today at Blessings for the Day. It first quotes St. Josemaria's words:

'Now after this' – we read in the eighth chapter of Saint Luke – 'he made his way through towns and villages preaching, and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod's steward Chusa, Susanna, and several others who provided for them out of their own resources'. I copy. And I pray God that if some woman reads this, she may be filled with a holy and fruitful envy.
~St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way, #981

Then the blogger comments: Well St. Josemaria, God answered your prayer; this woman did read this and was filled with that holy and fruitful envy of which you speak. I would have loved being in the company of these holy women. Not just because of who they were and Who they followed around, but because they knew how to be women.

Then she explains: While we don't read much about any one of them in Scripture, we do get a sense that they understood what it meant to be a woman in their day and time. They weren't whining and complaining to our Lord about why they can't be Apostles. "They provided for them out of their own resources." Now this can mean any number of things from monetary assistance or simply providing a hot meal, but I read something a little more deeply into this statement. These women knew who they were, they understood what it was to live their womanhood and they cared and provided for Jesus and the Apostles from what they had in that capacity.

I am sure that it wasn't always easy being a woman in those times, but they seemed to accept their state in life graciously. They may not have been in the forefront of things, but they understood the importance of what was required of them, and when it came to serving Jesus and the Apostles I am sure they saw the great privilege in this.

To read the rest of her post, please go to Blessings for the Day.