The Holy Gospel of Lent Madness,
according to the Supreme Executive Committee.
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him. Plus, I was worried that Emma might win the Golden Halo once all of Hawaii cast their votes.’ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have voted for Emma please tell me and I will go away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary! You have won the 2012 Golden Halo!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Holy Toledo!). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet decided upon the bracket for Lent Madness 2013. But log onto www.lentmadness.org and encourage my disciples to buy a commemorative mug.' Say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my SEC and your SEC (to straighten out those two goofy priests).”’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord.’ And then she told them she had won the Golden Halo. They were amazed, but Thomas cast his eyes downward, for he remembered his poor performance in the first round .
The "Gospel" of the Supreme Executive Committee.
95 comments on “Mary Magdalene Wins 2012 Golden Halo!”
thanks be to God!
congrats MM, and to all who made Lent Madness the awesome thing that it was. Looking forward to 2012!!
Er, that should be 2013...
This has been the best time (and of course, the most informative) I have ever had during Lent! Thank you!! Can't wait to get more of Atlanta involved in 2013! You guys and all the saints rock! Congrats, Mary!!!
My priest at St. Bart's Atlanta referred to Lent Madness in a sermon early in Lent, and I've been voting ever since. I love this competition! I don't know how I'm going to cope with LM withdrawal.
Thanks so much for all the great efforts put into it. It's been quite an education!
Thank you SEC, celebrity bloggers and other commenters for a truly blessed Lent Madness. I am richer by a bunch of hilarity, lovely poems about cats, knowledge of the saints and my church, and a list of good books to read. Until next year, I can only say
"WHERE IS MY TATOO!"
Congrats MM! Wear that Golden Halo proudly, as you definitely earned it with your love and devotion to Jesus.
Thanks to all who made Lenten Madness so enjoyable! I especially loved this final installment! Can I shout you all this shout out a couple days early? The Lord has risen indeed! Thanks be to God! Happy Easter to you all!
Love the new slant on the Encounter at the tomb of Joseph. Leave it to Thomas to still be the doubting one. Another example of the genius of Lent Madness. Thank you, thank you, and mahalo! h+++
Thanks for an informative and fun Lent Madness. Hope to see something interesting for our next Liturgical Season. Keep up the fun.
Thanks everyone!
Blessed Easter!
Thanks be to God! Now I can watch the Masters (golf tournament) while composing this week's sermons. (Maybe it was spring break in Hawaii too and everyone was off in Florida, as they are here in DC, and couldn't vote!!!)
This was all delightful. Thanks to Supreme Executive Committee, Celebrity Bloggers, fellow voters/ commenters and congratulations to Mary Magdalene. That Golden Halo surely looks great on you!
Thanks for an informative and fun Lent Madness. I can't wait to see next year's bracket.
Thanks to all who made Lent Madness fun, informative, and yes, spiritual! Your hard work made Lent pass by quickly, even without FB for me! So glad Mary won the halo ..... Now, on to Maunday Thursday footwashing and then tomorrow, the Cross... Definately, one of my more prayerful Lenten disciplines.Those who didn't participate missed on many, many, fronts. Have a Holy Easter. See you in 2013 ... So is it back to Forwbard Day by Day now!! Talk about withdrawal!
I believe that "Rabboni" would be Aramaic, which was the language spoken by Jesus contemporaries. Hebrew was the language of formal prayer and holy texts, no longer the spoken language of Jews in the Holy Land.
Correction: that should read, "... the language spoken by Jesus and his contemporaries." Sorry!
Angela, if that's the only problem with this "gospel" I think an intervention may be necessary.
Thanks to the SEC and the Communion of Saints - in heaven and on the internet - for a delightful Lenten tournament!
Huzzah for Mary! For the first time in the history of the church, Mary FINALLY receives all the adulation that she so richly deserves. I'm guessing that this is exactly how it felt when the canon was finally set by the gathered leadership of the church... It is a monumental day!
Wait till next year....
Giles in 2013!
Mazel tov, St. Mary of Magdala! Well done!
Wow.
Would anyone believe I'm at a (temporary) loss for words? Thank you is insufficient to express my gratitude for being able to participate in Lent Madness this year.
I am shocked by the gross scholarly oversight of the SEC. If the text is viewed carefully, and in context, it will be immediately clear that Toledo is a later interpolation or scribal gloss. Toledo as a city had not yet been founded! The NKJB (New King James Bracket) states the response as "Holy Moly!" One must be careful before jettisoning tradition!
Over the top!! It will be a challenge to surpass this for next year, but knowing you two guys, I'm sure you will come up with something. Thanks for the Lenten fun, and info.
[...] the winner is…. Posted on April 5, 2012 by gaudetetheology Mary Magdalen, Apostle to the [...]
"Go in peace, our bracket is complete!"
haha!
This made my morning! I can't wait to see what 2013 will bring! As two the two "church leaders" who brought this to us all, thank you! Does this mean that you are again going to be archnemesises (sp?). I am hoping that this lesson in cooperation has brought about a true and deeply felt bond of brotherly love. Perhaps you can find other archnemesises who can also, later, be brought into the circle of whatever you two have. I'd suggest a girl.
Throughly enjoyed this and looking forward to next year! Love today's post.
thank you! for great fun & learning. A blessed Tridium to all!
Wonderful portrait of Magdalene. Mary looks uncomfortable with her newly earned halo... as only a true Saint would~!
What a Pythonesque take on the Gospel! Just the right touch!
Thanks to all -- to the SEC, the celebrity bloggers, the Bracket C(T)zar, and all those who made comments. I learned so much and had so much fun!
Wishing a solemn Triduum and glorious Easter to all.
Claire, while I too love tradition and agree that it should not TOO easily be cast aside, some scholars (or at least ONE scholar, though I use that latter term rather loosely) recognize the possibility that Mary was acquainted with the Toledo region of Spain, south of Madrid which, according the the infallible source, "Wikipedia," has been settled since the Bronze Age. Thus, there may be legitimate debate over whether the proper translation of Mary's exclamation is REALLY "Holy Toledo" or "Holy Moly" as you suggest. I mean, she didn't SPECIFY Toledo, Ohio! I.e., it may not have been "scribal gloss" at all!!!
Again, though, thanks to the SEC, CB's and all participants! And, Tim, if the SEC DOES begin performing interventions, just let me know and I will surrender myself peacefully.