The young women gathered around him and asked’ "Teacher, what is the best image of what we may become? We feel uncertain about the ways." Then Jesus said, "woman, what you ask is something I cannot give." And he told them a parable, saying: \\PAUSE

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[CHANGE VOICE]

A woman sat at the crossroad, where the road that went North and South, met the road that went East and West. People passed her, some who were ashamed, some who were angry, but most looked at her with disapproval. Some threw clothes at her, all colours and sizes, which landed in a heap. The woman knew that she was naked but would not lift a finger to cover herself. \\ PAUSE

There was a woman in an elegant gown, who stopped her journey and went to the naked woman, saying , "Here take my dress, see how beautiful it is." \\ She took off the garment and handed it to the naked woman who instantly felt its weight. "This is very heavy", said the naked woman. The elegant woman nodded. "The wearer of that gown must always look beautiful, must always act charming, must always be still and maintain beauty for her husband.\\ She must always display her husband’s wealth, no matter its incumbrance. She must always look youthful, frozen in time. She must put up with her husbands appetites, temperament and decisions." \\ "I do not want this dress," said the naked woman. "Here, take it back." But instead, the elaborate woman threw her dress on the heap. \\PAUSE

There was a woman in a simple dress, who stopped her journey and went to the naked woman, saying, "Here, take my dress. See how easy it is? It takes no special care and is easy to walk in." She handed the dress to the naked woman who felt the weight of it. "What causes this dress to be so heavy?"\\ "Thankless toil \\- years of washing, scrubbing vacuuming,\\ diapering, remembering, catering, organizing \\ cooking, arguing, punishing.\\ The wearer of this dress is forever the back bone of the home. \\ She can never be tired, get sick, be alone, cultivate her own interests. She loses her power, her youth, and watches her lovers eyes as they look elsewhere."\\ "Here, take back your dress", said the naked woman. But the simple woman put her dress by the side of the road and joined the elegant woman. And they began to argue between themselves about whose garment had been the heaviest.\\ PAUSE

There was a woman in black leather who stopped her journey. "My dress might suit you. It is easy to get in and out of. It is very alluring. Here," and she handed the dress to the naked woman.\\ "Don’t be deceived, it too is heavy laden." "Why?", asked the naked woman. "The wearer of the dress must bear the burden of frigidity. She must always be available for the sexual demands of men.\\ She is the keeper of lies and deceits. She must endure the dislike of those who do not understand but wish they had her power. The woman who wears this dress must give herself to clothe and feed herself and her children, and to care for them.\\ She must always be soft and sensuous, yet always be seen as bold, enterprising, calculating and owned. She lives with the knowledge that she must welcome men who will never stay."\\ "This dress will not do either," said the naked

woman. "Take it back". But the sensuous woman tossed her dress amongst the others, joined the other women and entered into the argument. \\ PAUSE

Then a woman in a long blue habit stopped her journey and went to the naked woman. She said, "My child, you are naked, let me clothe you with this habit which is warm and safe." "Its weight is very great." "Yes," said the holy woman. "It knows the secrets of one hundred thousand souls. One must be strong. The wearer must show strength in silence and in solitude.\\ She must understand birth but never bear children, must understand the cravings of the flesh but never experience them. She must understand the ways of the world but never be a part of it.\\ The woman who wears this dress must sacrifice herself constantly for the needs of others, and never fill her own." "I am neither fearful nor cold," said the naked woman. "Take back your habit." So the holy woman placed her habit with the other dresses, and entered into the argument.\\ PAUSE

There was a woman in a red suit, who stopped her journey\\ [puts down briefcase] and she said "Here, this would be very smart on you. Its lines are professionally tailored and it gives a serious appearance." She handed the suit jacket to the naked woman. "Why does this garment carry so much weight?" "Do not be fooled by its professional appearance. The wearer of this suit lives in a sterile world and cannot be a part of any of the world you have seen so far.\\ One can never be beautiful or artistic, for that would distract people from the business at hand. She must never have any relationship that would slow her progress to the top of her field. She must never be soft for then she would be the mark of those who would destroy her and take away her power. She must never be holy for the way of the spirit weakens the power of the world of the rational. So the wearer of this dress must remain closed like a prison so she can avoid all outside forces that would drain her of her power." \\ "This is frightening," said the naked woman, and gave back the clothes. But the professional woman threw the suit on the ground with the others. Then she too joined in the argument, insisting that of all the garments, hers was the heaviest.\\ PAUSE

The women argued beside the naked woman, argued far in to the night. At some point their arguments changed from self pity to blame upon the others. As each experienced the pointed finger of the others, she began to realize that there were things about her dress that were worthy and good. And there were things that they were not ashamed of or encumbered by.\\ "I know how to feel my body and feel the pleasure of physical love," said the sensuous woman. "Teach me about that" said the holy woman, "and I will teach you the wonder of the quest to know God."\\ "I know how to organize a large business, and make it run and how to handle many things," said the professional woman. "Teach me", said the elaborate woman, "and I will help you make yourself beautiful so that you will enjoy the appearance of your self."\\ "Teach me my attraction," said the simple woman, "and I will teach you to bear and to love a child."\\ New life spread up amongst the women as they fashioned for themselves garments out of the clothing they had piled, each unique and each sharing parts from the other. As they talked and as they worked, the naked woman got up and walked to the next intersection, East of them, and sat down.\\ PAUSE

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(change voice)

And Jesus said to the young women, "those who have ears to hear, let them hear."