As the Paschal period draws to a close, we thought we’d take a look at three of the lesser-known Myrrhbearers, Joanna, Susanna, and Mary of Clopas. All three are based on their lives as pieced together by renowned New Testament scholar Richard Bauckham in his book Gospel Women.
Joanna was wealthy, sophisticated, and independent. She was born into a wealthy Jewish family. When she grew to puberty, she was given in marriage to Chuza, a Nabatean noble who was the finance minister for the ruler Herod Antipas. (Chuza had converted to Judaism to marry her.) As his wife, Joanna became part of the romanized culture in their city of Tiberias. Although she seems to have been part of a circle that took Jewish religious practices seriously, her romanization and wealth gave her a more independent and active life than most Jewish women.
Jesus became known as a healer and exorcist in the area immediately to the north of Tiberias. Although Jesus and his disciples avoided Tiberias, members of the court went out to see him, Joanna among them, as she was urgently in need of healing. “Joanna knew that Jesus was no mere charismatic healer, but that his healings were integral to a vision of the coming kingdom of God. Her own healing brough her into growing participation in this vision, which included an uncompromising call to repentance, a corresponding enactment of God’s transformative forgiveness, and the inclusion of all kinds of marginal and excluded people….” She used her wealth to support Jesus and his disciples (and their families). She also traveled with them and was there at the cross when Jesus was crucified and at the tomb to witness his resurrection. Afterward she took up missionary career with her husband in Rome.
Holy St. Joanna, pray for us!