Our Daily Bread ( April 2026 )

Our Daily Bread

Title: Heart of Gold

Intro

Lives of the women mentioned in the Bible show their complete surrender and cooperation to God’s will, writes Anil Israel.

Article

A unique purpose lies in everything created. Human beings, created in the image and likeness (Genesis 1:26) of God, are his masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). So, our existence has a meaningful purpose, a distinct contribution to make in God’s great big design. We have been blessed with a special combination of temperament, talents, abilities, gifts and charisms to fulfil the divine assignment entrusted to us. 

Those who have gone before us have done their part; many have lived exemplary lives and are still remembered today. We can learn from their cooperation in God’s plan and be encouraged to do our part in the times and places we are blessed to be part of. 

A look at the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospels shows mostly names of men from one generation to another. It might appear that the names of women are intentionally excluded. This is not to be misinterpreted as a different treatment for women. For the creation story vividly recalls God creating women from the side of man, making her equal in dignity. The few names that do appear in the genealogy, have powerful messages to convey. 

Among the first names mentioned, is Rahab, who is not even of Jewish origin. Rahab lived in the Jericho city wall. The famous wall that crumbled down when the Israelites marched around the city of Jericho for seven days. On the seventh day, presumably the entire city wall collapsed, perhaps except the part where Rahab lived. What made Rahab exceptional? Though Rahab lived a foreign culture with a belief system alien to those of God’s chosen people, she had a profound faith in the God of the Israelites. Hearing the stories of how the Lord had brought the Israelites out of Egypt, she was convinced that the Lord your God is he who is God in heaven above and on earth beneath (Joshua 2:11). This unwavering belief in the one true God led her to hide the two Israelite spies who lodged at her house. This act of kindness resulted in her and her household being saved.

The very next name mentioned is that of a non-Jewish, Moabite woman, Ruth. Ruth could have chosen, like Orpah, to return to her own people. She opted not to leave her mother-in-law Naomi alone and chose to embrace the Jewish faith: your people shall be my people, and your God my God (Ruth 1:16). Her bold proclamation to follow the God of the Israelites led to her becoming the great grandmother of King David. 

Queen Esther, elevated to the royal title, cooperated with God’s plan; her timely courageous move to plead before the king saved the lives of the exiled Jewish people. Truly, it only takes a mustard-seed sized faith to move seemingly immovable mountains. 

It matters not your history or present circumstance, what matters is who you place your hope and trust in. Courageous women from the Old Testament like Deborah, Jael and Judith magnificently cooperated with God’s plan. A teenage Jewish girl, trusting the message of an angel, consented to the will of the Most High, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word’ (Luke 1:38). Mary’s astounding ‘yes’ at the Annunciation, gave the world the long-awaited saviour, Jesus. Mary, invited as a guest to the marriage at Cana, compassionately recognising the wine had run out, intervened and interceded to her son. She not only brings our petitions to Jesus, when we have recourse to her, but also encourages us to align our lives to God’s will: Do whatever he tells you (John 2:5).

Besides Martha and Mary Magdalene, the Gospels also mention the names of a few women who accompanied Jesus: Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means’ (Luke 8:3). It is interesting to see here ‘many others’ who provided for the ministry work, from what the Lord has blessed them with. They not only supported His ministry but were faithful till the end. Apparently, more women are mentioned to have been standing by the cross of Jesus (John 19:25). Even on Easter Sunday morning, we find Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb (Matthew 28:1). 

Mary Magdalene will always be remembered as ‘the Apostle to the Apostles’. St Lydia, is reportedly the first European Christian. Phoebe, Sts Perpetua & Felicity, St Agnes of Rome, St Agatha of Sicily, St Lucy of Syracuse, St Catherine of Alexandria – all stool tall in upholding Christianity in the early centuries. St Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, travelled to the Holy Land and discovered the True Cross in Jerusalem. 

St Teresa of Avila, St Catherine of Siena, St Therese of Lisieux and St Hildegard of Bingen are recognised as women Doctors of the Church. Among the six patron saints of Europe, three are women. Mother Teresa’s sisters all over the globe continue to radiate other-centred love in a world succumbing to self-centredness. 

If there is one thing we ought to learn from them, it is that they placed all their hope and trust in the Lord and cooperated with His Will, despite their share of unfavourable circumstances, hardships and sufferings. Such self-emptied hearts are interiorly beautiful and immensely precious in God’s eyes. May we too aspire to do our share of the good work God has planned for us. It is nice to be beautiful; it is more beautiful to be nice. May the Spirit inspire us to exhibit a ‘heart of gold’ – the sign of a beautiful soul.