Help Publish The Last Shall Be First: A Call to a Community of Equals
Posted on 03/10/2026 @ 07:24 PM
A theological work by Sr. María Engracia Robles calling the Church to communion among equals.
“The true mark of Christian community is a table where there is communion among equals — where the excluded are welcomed, gifts are shared, and each person participates in the same mission of Jesus.”
— The Last Shall Be First
Ready to support this project?
Make your donation here: Support the publication of The Last Shall Be First
The Gospel presents a radical vision of how we are called to live. In the life and ministry of Jesus, those who were excluded were welcomed, and women and men were called together to follow him.
The Last Shall Be First invites readers to rediscover this vision: a community of equals where all share in discipleship, service, and the mission of Jesus.
Drawing on years of pastoral experience and theological reflection, Sister Ma. Engracia Robles explores the presence of women in the Gospels and the role they played as disciples. Through a careful reading of Scripture, she shows that women were not only followers, but also witnesses, participants in the community, and the first to proclaim the resurrection.
At the heart of the book is a simple conviction: what matters in following Jesus are attitudes and shared participation, not positions of power.
About the Book
The Last Shall Be First reflects on the role of women in the Gospel and in the early community of Jesus. Through a careful reading of Scripture, the book reveals how women were present throughout Jesus’ ministry as disciples, witnesses, and participants in the mission of the Kingdom.
The work explores Gospel passages in which Jesus encounters women and shows how their faith, courage, and generosity illuminate the true meaning of discipleship. Again and again, women respond to Jesus with remarkable freedom and conviction, embodying the radical call of the Gospel.
Las Últimas Serán las Primeras also reflects on two central symbols in the Gospels: the house and the table. These spaces represent the life of the first Christian communities, where people gathered, shared their lives, and recognized the presence of the risen Christ.
Within these spaces of shared life, women and men lived a communion rooted in dignity, equality, and mutual service.
About the Author
Sister María Engracia Robles, M.E.
Sister María Engracia Robles is a Catholic religious sister of the Missionaries of the Eucharist whose life has been dedicated to pastoral ministry, theological reflection, and accompaniment of vulnerable communities.
For many years she has served along the U.S.–Mexico border, walking closely with migrants, families, and people who are searching for dignity, faith, and a new beginning. Through this ministry, she has witnessed both the struggles and the deep resilience of the communities she serves.
The Last Shall Be First grew out of her theological studies and her life of ministry. What began as an academic thesis developed into a deeper reflection shaped by years of prayer, community life, and pastoral experience.
In this book, Sister Engracia revisits the Gospel stories of women who encountered Jesus. Through careful reflection, she shows how women were present as disciples, witnesses, and participants in the earliest Christian communities.
Her work invites readers to rediscover a Gospel vision of community rooted in dignity, equality, and shared mission.
Why This Book Matters
The message of the Gospel challenges every form of exclusion and invites believers to build communities of communion and equality.
The Last Shall Be First reminds us that the call to follow Jesus is shared by all. Discipleship is not defined by hierarchy or status but by faith, compassion, service, and communion.
By revisiting the Scriptures with careful attention to the experience of women, this book opens a path for deeper reflection on how Christian communities can more fully embody the Gospel today.
Help Bring This Book to Life
The manuscript for The Last Shall Be First is complete.
We are raising $5,000 to cover the final steps needed to publish the book, including:
• professional editing
• design and layout
• cover design
Your support will help make this work available to readers who are seeking a deeper understanding of the Gospel and its call to communion among equals.
Together, we can help bring this message to a wider audience.
Ready to support this project?
Make your donation here: Support the publication of The Last Shall Be First