Homily for Women's Day( Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 139: 1-3, 13-15; Luke 1:39-56)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, as we celebrate Women's Day, our readings present us with profound images of womanhood that transcend time and culture. From the "worthy wife" in Proverbs to the Blessed Virgin Mary's Magnificat, Scripture offers us a vision of feminine dignity that flows not from worldly standards but from God's own design.

In Proverbs, we hear of the woman whose "value is far beyond pearls." This passage concludes the entire book of Proverbs—wisdom literature that begins with "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" and culminates with this portrait of the wise woman. This is no coincidence. The worthy woman embodies wisdom itself through her actions: "She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy." Her worth comes not from external beauty, which is "fleeting," but from her reverence for God manifested in works of charity and justice.

This woman is industrious, using her hands for weaving and her mind for business. But notice that her industriousness is not self-serving. It is directed toward caring for her household and extending mercy to those in need. The sacred author tells us, "Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Here we find the heart of authentic femininity in the biblical vision—not defined by appearance or even accomplishments, but by a heart that fears and loves the Lord.

Our psalm today deepens this understanding of human dignity. "LORD, you have probed me, you know me... you formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb." Before any of us could prove our worth through actions, before society could assign us value based on appearance or ability, God knew us, formed us, and loved us. Pope Saint John Paul II, in his letter on the dignity of women, *Mulieris Dignitatem*, reminds us that "the dignity of every human being and the vocation corresponding to that dignity find their definitive measure in union with God."

This psalm reveals that our dignity comes not from what we do but from who we are—beings created in God's image, known intimately by Him, and called to relationship with Him. For women, this means their fundamental dignity can never be reduced to functions they perform, whether in family life, the workplace, or society. Their worth, like every human person's, is intrinsic—woven into their very being by the Creator.

And then we come to the Gospel, where we witness one of the most beautiful encounters between women in all of Scripture: Mary visiting Elizabeth. Here we see the young virgin and the elderly woman, both carrying children through God's miraculous intervention. When Mary greets Elizabeth, something extraordinary happens—John the Baptist leaps in Elizabeth's womb, and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit.

Notice how Elizabeth responds to Mary: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." Elizabeth recognizes Mary's unique role in salvation history, yet she does so not with envy but with joy and humility, asking, "And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"

Mary's response, the Magnificat, is one of the most revolutionary prayers in Scripture. Far from being passive or meek in the negative sense, Mary boldly proclaims God's justice: "He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty."

Saint Ambrose wrote that in Mary we see "the mystical figure of the Church." Her Magnificat is not just her personal prayer but becomes the voice of all believers who recognize God's work in their lives. Mary's greatness comes not from asserting herself but from recognizing God's work within her: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior."

What does all this mean for us today as we celebrate Women's Day?

First, it reminds us that a woman's dignity, like every person's, comes from being created in God's image and likeness. No social condition, no lack of recognition, no discrimination can ever diminish this fundamental dignity. As Pope Francis has said, "Women see things with different eyes that complement the thoughts of men. It is a path of richness, not of limitation."

Second, these readings challenge the false dichotomies our culture often creates. The Proverbs woman is both strong and gentle, both industrious and compassionate. Mary is both humble and bold, both receptive and active in God's plan. The Catholic vision of femininity has never been about restricting women to narrow roles but about recognizing the unique gifts women bring to family, Church, and society.

Third, we are reminded that authentic femininity, like all Christian virtues, is ultimately about relationship with God. The woman who "fears the LORD" in Proverbs, the psalmist who recognizes being "wonderfully made" by God, and Mary who proclaims God's greatness—all find their identity first in relationship with their Creator.

For the women here today, I encourage you to embrace your God-given dignity. Like Mary, recognize that "the Mighty One has done great things" for you. Your worth does not depend on meeting cultural standards of beauty, success, or even service. You are valuable because you are loved by God, formed by Him, and called to a unique mission that only you can fulfill.

For the men, I invite you to honor the dignity of the women in your lives—not just today but every day. See in them, as Elizabeth saw in Mary, the work of God. Support them in becoming fully who God has created them to be.

And for all of us, let us work together to build a Church and society where the dignity of every woman is recognized and protected from conception until natural death. Let us create communities where, like Mary visiting Elizabeth, women can support one another in responding to God's call. And let us all, like Mary, magnify the Lord with our lives, allowing Him to lift up the lowly and fill the hungry with good things.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, model of discipleship for women and men alike, pray for us as we seek to honor the dignity and vocation of women in our world today.

Amen.