‘The Chosen’ is an excellent series about the life of Jesus told in a very realistic manner.

But it has completely lost my admiration by presenting the Last Supper as a men-only event.

Women suddenly banished

All of his women disciples, who had figured equally throughout, are suddenly banished.

To explain this, ‘The Chosen’ has added an invented scene of Jesus meeting alone with seven of his women disciples, saying, “I ask that you keep your distance from me in Jerusalem these few days.”

No scriptural basis is offered for this totally fictional meeting.

Gospel silence on exclusion

Nowhere in the Gospels does it say that the women disciples were excluded from the Last Supper.

They had followed him on the long journey up to Jerusalem.

And the next day the women were at the foot of the cross while the men ran away.

Jesus treated all equally

Throughout his ministry Jesus treated women and men as equals.

With the story of the loaves and fishes, Jesus fed 5,000, not counting women and children.

It was a very patriarchal society.

But Jesus did not support the patriarchal structures.

He engaged with women and men and children, with tax collectors and prostitutes.

His message of love was for everyone.

Images speak louder than words

Images speak louder than words.

Leonardo da Vinci painted his magnificent “Last Supper” 500 years ago showing only Jesus and his 12 male apostles.

Leonardo was no doubt guided by the pope as to who to include in the picture – with women and children definitely excluded.

Thousands of artists have copied this composition of 13 men alone in a room.

And this image has become engraved in public consciousness.

But it is fake news.

Challenging fake traditions

The life Jesus led makes it impossible to accept the “men only” images of the Last Supper.

The apostles were shocked to find Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well.

Peter was jealous of the close relationship Jesus had with Mary of Magdala.

Yet it was Peter who betrayed Jesus three times.

And it was Mary of Magdala who was the first witness of the risen Christ – and the men did not believe her.

A church moving back to Christ

Has ‘The Chosen’ sold its soul to the patriarchal church?

Patriarchy is alive and well in the Roman Catholic Church.

A majority of the ordained deacons, priests, bishops and cardinals are determined to hold on to their power and privileges.

But the synodal structures are moving away from the monarchical towards a more democratic structure.

With this movement our church is finding its way back to Christ.

• Colm Holmes is Chair of “We are Church International”.
• Flashes of Insight is an international publication. The editorial policy is that spelling reflects the country of origin.