By Naomi Meints
Date: May 9th, 2023

Easter can mean different things to people. Of course, we gather to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We reflect on what he did and celebrate the promise of salvation. We gather with loved ones to dress in our best pastels to eat a feast, or maybe a basket of sugary sweets. In other words, we rejoice. 

As a self defined “girly girl,” I’ve been reflecting on my favorite Easter traditions through my experience as a young woman. I love the fresh flowers and getting dressed up in my nicest pink outfit. It wouldn’t be Easter for me without helping make the quiche recipe my grandma had passed down since the 50’s, complete with my aunts messing with each other as if they were still teenage girls. Anyone is able to love these parts of the holiday, as it means different things to people and is, after all, a time to celebrate freedom in Christ. That being said, I have always loved expressing my femininity during the holiday in ways that matter to me. Furthermore, I know the upkeep of my family’s traditions, be it food, clothing, or a shared space and the very ability to rejoice together, wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and legacy of the women in my family. 

As I sat in the pews this last Easter Sunday, one detail of the story stuck in my mind for a while. I began thinking about the women at the tomb of Jesus, and how women overall were casually mentioned heavily throughout the crucifixion and resurrection. I thought it was interesting how crucial the roles of women are to this story and how rarely they are highlighted. 

Again, women are distinctly crucial to the Easter story. While the focus of the resurrection story is first and always the glory of God, it is important to celebrate the way God used women as part of achieving this glorious plan. They were there for the crucifixion, went to the tomb, and most importantly, were the first ones to receive news of Jesus’s resurrection. As they kept the faith and went to the tomb, they were greeted by the empty tomb and an angel that instructed them to share the truth of the resurrection. This means God intentionally entrusted a woman with the job of sharing the most precious and important news of Jesus’s resurrection, words that formed the Christian tradition. I once heard my pastor say that because of this, women had been leaders and preachers since the moment Christianity started, and arguably, the very first. Yet, we rarely see most women centered in Biblical stories or have their contributions to these well known stories examined in the way male prophets and disciples have been in Chrisitan history. 

As we experience and examine our congregations and spiritual lives, there is much to do. As we work on equity and equality for all within our churches, we must not neglect the continuing work that must be done in the world of gender. Despite the rich Biblical history of women as preachers, prophets, and disciples, there are still barriers in many churches that prevent women from leading. This is in addition to the issues in Christian communities that prevent women from speaking out, achieving acceptance, or seeking justice. It is in the most treasured stories of the Christian tradition, such as this, where we must highlight the roles of women and how they have often been hidden or erased throughout history to fit an unjust agenda for the church. 

The Bible should be examined through a feminist lens and used to empower women in understanding God’s truth and value of all of his children, one of full equality. I believe the stories of the Bible can be used as greatly empowering tools for women of all ages. I, like many, have a Biblical name (first and middle), coming from the Book of Ruth and the Book of Judith. I took pride in my namesake from a young age, with both books being centered around the feelings, actions, and interactions between women in order to serve the will of God. One is a story of loyal familial relations and the quiet strength of hope and perseverance in times of trial, and the other is a story of a fierce and courageous woman taking power and direct action to save her people. These stories of women’s independent actions and empowerment are different, but anything but inactive or unimportant. Not only do I carry the stories of these holy women with me, I carry the legacy of the women in my family who passed their names down to me. Matriarchs, those who had an undeniable leadership role in making things like celebrating Easter together as a family what it is today, even if it was often behind the scenes. 

We must acknowledge and celebrate all of the ways God uses women as active players in his plan, crucial and valuable. Despite the attempts to erase the sacrifices and victories of women in the Bible, we know the Bible itself proves they are every part as important to the story as the men. Among women, the different roles God has given us are equal and holy, whether that is as a powerful warrior, faithful preacher, or devoted mother. This is no different than acknowledging the holy work of the modern woman, be it as a female pastor breaking the norm or the essential work of a mother or wife that often goes unnoticed. I encourage all to never forget the ongoing goal of uncovering and embracing the role of women in our Biblical history, and use it as an inspiration to continue the work of empowering women through the church. There are few better examples of this than the Easter story, where the actions of women are a central component, much like many of the traditions and experiences I hold dear.