Today's match-up pits two writers against one another. Evangelist vs. Poet. In other words if you've ever experienced the agony of writer's block, this battle's for you.
No one seemed to experience voter's block yesterday as Hilda of Whitby held off a feisty Ignatius of Antioch to advance to the Elate Eight. She'll face the winner of Martha of Bethany vs. Harriet Tubman (good luck with that).
While everyone knows we have the best Celebrity Bloggers in the Celebrity Blogger business, we need to say a word about our own Laurie Brock. Some of you may know that a few days ago Laurie took a spill off her galloping horse and fell onto a fence. While she's at home and recovering nicely, she did break several ribs and punctured a lung. We invite you, the Lent Madness community, to keep Laurie in your prayers in the weeks ahead. An out-of-commission priest less than three weeks before Easter is not a good thing.
While the SEC got off its duff and wrote yesterday's write-up for Hilda (one of Laurie's saints), Laurie insisted on writing today's entry for John Donne. In other words, she is so dedicated to Lent Madness that she overcame broken bones and internal injuries to fulfill her commitment. While most of us would be crying while curled up in the fetal position and cursing the world (speaking for myself), Laurie has gotten right back in the Lent Madness saddle (um, bad analogy). Of course, this shouldn't affect your voting choice since the last thing Laurie would want would be sympathy votes for John Donne.
Tim and Scott addressed Laurie's situation and the inherent hazards of Celebrity Bloggership in yesterday's edition of Monday Madness along with a response to the accusation that Lent Madness is a liberal religious gambling site. Monday Madness: It's must see (low production value internet) TV!
And finally, if you haven't liked Lent Madness on Facebook (and reaped the benefits of all the bonus material) this is the week to do so. We're on a campaign to hit 5,000 likes by the end of the week. Why? Because we like round numbers and Tim and Scott could use the affirmation as a measure of their self-worth. Thanks to all our new "likers" who heeded the call yesterday -- well over 150 of you -- to put us at 4,859 as of this very moment.
Luke the Evangelist
Luke the Evangelist and author of Luke-Acts gave us many key stories of the New Testament, including stories of Jesus’ birth and the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. But the stories about Luke himself are thin on the ground. What is he hiding? He’s the patron saint of bachelors and brewers, which is suggestive. Was he part of a fraternity? He was a Greek after all.
He’s also the patron saint of painters, based on a legend that he painted an official portrait of the Madonna. Dante Gabriel Rossetti wrote a sonnet about “St. Luke the Painter” that begins:
Give honor unto Luke Evangelist
For he it was (the aged legends say)
Who first taught Art to fold her hands and pray.
It is claimed that both the Black Madonna of Czestochowa and the Madonna Nikopeia were painted by Luke with the Madonna sitting as model, telling him stories of Jesus’ life and ministry.
Luke is often seen with his emblem of an ox, which either symbolizes the priestly aspect of his gospel (since it begins with the priest Zechariah) or the sacrificial nature of Jesus’ ministry. Or someone decided to make the four beasts surrounding God’s throne in Ezekiel 1 match the four gospels of the New Testament canon and Luke got the ox.
There is another story about Luke in the Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine (compiled in the 13th-Century) that claims Luke appeared to the Christians of Antioch who “had abandoned themselves to vice,” and were “besieged by a horde of the Turks.” Luckily, with Luke’s intercession, “the Christians straightaway put the Turks to rout.” And no doubt straightened up their act.
So apparently Luke kept an eye on his hometown of Antioch, which was probably tricky since he’s a bit scattered. In 357, his remains were moved to Constantinople by Constantine, then later taken to Padua, having been stolen by Crusaders. In 1992, the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Ieronymos of Thebes and Levathia requested a bit of Luke and received “the rib of Luke that was closest to his heart,” which is now buried in Thebes. His head somehow ended up in Prague at some point, apparently. Other competing relics include three arms, a knee, two fingers, a tooth, and some miscellaneous bones.
A DNA test of a tooth from the Padua relics, however, suggest the remains are indeed “characteristic of people living near the region of Antioch, on the eastern Mediterranean, where Luke is said to have been born. Radiocarbon dating of the tooth indicates that it belonged to someone who died between 72 A.D. and 416 A.D.” So you know that’s legit.
John Donne
John Donne’s life preached the truth that humans are complex, rich texts. Like the stories in our Holy Scripture, one cannot read the section of Donne’s later ordained life as Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in 17th-century England without reading the first chapters of his adventures as a rake and scoundrel. Donne was born into a prominent Roman Catholic family and attended several institutions of higher learning, never attaining a degree. Instead, he jumped ship to the European continent, wrote bawdy poetry, womanized, partied, and lived life out loud while writing even more poetry. After going legit (sort of -- he was still one of London’s official playboys), his wit and intelligence landed him a job as the private secretary to one of the highest officials in the queen’s court. He secured a seat in Elizabeth’s last parliament and was on the fast track to fame and fortune. Then he ruined it all for love. He secretly married Ann More and her father and John’s employer were totally opposed to the match. Yet they married. Donne got sacked and landed in jail, along with the priest who married them. Donne summed up the experience in one sentence: “John Donne, Ann Donne, Undone.”
While Donne had quietly converted to Anglicanism some time during the 1590‘s, he began more deeply to explore his faith in the early 1600’s. He began to mingle the erotic sexuality of his early poetry with what Donne called the “amorous seeking of Christ.” He quoted Solomon to explain his erotic religious poetry (and probably his earlier erotic not-so-religious poetry), reminding us that Solomon “was amorous, and excessive in the love of women: when he turned to God, he departed not utterly from his old phrase and language, but...conveys all his loving approaches and applications to God.”
His friends began to urge him to consider holy orders. He resisted, noting that some in England considered him a pornographer and that, “some irregularities of my life have been so visible to some men.” King James, however, wanted him to become a priest, and the king’s will was done. Donne was ordained and soon became known as a great preacher in a era of great preachers.
Many of Donne’s poems, essays, and sermons during this time reflect a fixation on death (many being code for most). During his 10-year tenure as Dean of St. Paul’s the Black Plague swept through London thrice (this is about Donne; I can use thrice). His beloved wife Ann died before he became Dean and 5 of his 12 children died in childhood. He had a painting done of himself in a death shroud before he died. Yet his words focus not on the hopelessness of death, but the embrace of God’s love that awaits us through the gates of death.
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me....
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
Donne’s life -- all of it -- preached. His sermons, his poetry, his satire, and his essays weave the fullness of human life together. Courageously he did not edit out the distasteful, racy parts, but allowed all the words he lived and wrote to be offered to the glory of God. Donne’s life was filled with love, loss, passion, mistakes, poverty, riches and redemption. No chapter was wasted or ignored by Donne or God. For Donne, “[A]ll mankind is of one author and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated. God employs several translators; some pieces are translated by age, some by sickness, some by war, some by justice; but God’s hand is in every translation, and his hand shall bind up all our scattered leaves again for that library where every book shall lie open to one another.”
-- Laurie Brock
Vote!
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116 comments on “Luke the Evangelist vs. John Donne”
Laurie, my prayers are with you for a quick recovery. Many thanks for being such a Lent Madness trooper and providing a great write-up for John Donne. He would have loved it, I am sure. Peace.
As for my vote - I have to give it to Luke. The first of his two part work is my fav gospel. The focus on prayer, the poor, women, and the Holy Spirit really speaks to me.
Thanks, Barbara, for that marvelous Donne poem you pointed out. Never read it before, but it is a wonderful example of his fervor, and his love of wordplay. And I voted for Done even before I read it.
First, Laurie, you are indeed a trooper. May healing come swiftly.
And while I know Luke is a Gospel writer who shed much light on our understanding, I am struck by Laurie's last line from Donne's work that
"God employs several translators." I do so hope that is the case because we each need all the help we can get! I'm going for the man whose understanding of our humanity jumped off the page for me.
Be well, Laurie, and thanks for all you have Donne.
Maybe next year we can agree that NO ONE from scripture can be in the race! Or at least no one from the accepted canon. Thomas, anyone?
Nobody knows who wrote the text of Luke and Acts, so I guess the name Luke is as good as any. We have only the writing to go on in evaluating Luke, so that's all I can use as a guide, and in that sense, I have to give the laurels to the man whom we know actually existed and actually was named John Donne.
Not to say that the gospel editor (he compiled what others wrote in much of the text) was not important, but if we really compare the two on the basis of what they wrote (and in the case of the un-named author of Luke-Acts, this is all we have), I have to give the vote to John Donne, whose work is huge and wonderful to a degree the gospel writer cannot approach.
You could say, "But Luke's writing is canonized!" and you'd also be showing that Luke already HAS his reward, so, as I was saying, give this one to John.
There's just no comparison between the impact of Luke and the impact of Donne. Many, many Episcopalians have not even heard of him, much less has their faith been enlivened by reading him. Some of Donne's writing is justly famous, but most of it has long since been forgotten. And some of Donne's work is too clever and precious by half.....there..
No doubt those who have never heard of him will vote for the un-named editor. Go for it, by all means.
Then get that old volume down, dust it off and read some great stuff.
I doubt there are many, many Episcopalians who haven't heard of Donne -- he's even in the Hymnal for heaven's sake! But there are a lot of non-Episcopalians voting in Lent Madness, and obviously some Episcopalians who are voting for Luke, as well.
Well, I was all prepared to vote for my favorite Gospel writer, Luke, when I read Laurie's piece on John Donne and changed my mind. I do love Donne's story and his writing. Now that I've voted for Donne, I see that Luke is in the lead. I haven't gotten it right in days! But Luke WAS my first choice, so hooray for Luke.
Donne’s beginning is not his end. His story is of transformation from scum-bag to repentant redeemed scum-bag. It’s my story too. This part of his last sermon at St. Paul’s shines a light for me –" There we leave you, in that blessed dependency, to hang upon him, that hangs upon the cross. There bathe in his tears, there suck at his wounds, and lie down in peace in his grave, till he vouchsafe you a Resurrection, and an ascension into that Kingdom which he hath purchased for you, with the inestimable price of his incorruptible blood." – While I am fed and taught by Luke’s memories, I am filled with hope that the real-life reclamation project that is Donne’s life shows what may be possible for me.
For that last image of all the leaves of our books being open to one another, I vote for Donne.
Had to go for Luke since I attend a church named after him and my father is a physican. But the poetry of John "50 Shades" Donne is beautiful and almost made me think twice.
Woe is me! I am un-Donne. My vote went for Luke-
Almost didn't vote for Luke because of the unfortunate placement of body parts. Yeah, I don't understand the obsession with relics. 🙁 Makes me queasy. But in the end I agreed with the comment "Where would we be without Acts?"
If you really want to get queasy, when I entered an Episcopal convent back in the mid 60's, they were still reading the martyrology at breakfast. One had to sit quietly and look at the hard boiled egg in its egg cup on the plate while hearing about what had happened to the various martyrs and what had been done to their bodies after their death. Only after the martyrology was read, could one begin to eat a cold breakfast. Truly a memorable experience.
Great write up Laurie. Your "Donne’s life was filled with love, loss, passion, mistakes, poverty, riches and redemption." sounds like a perfectly saintly description to me. My vote is for Donne. And my prayers for a quick recovery for you, Laurie.
Although the three-armed saint of brewers presents a strong case, I am swayed by a man who lived a flawed/kick ass life and found Jesus. Vote to Donne today.
Laurie, feel better soon!
Get well soon Laurie; I had to vote for Luke, although I had to smile at your shameless plea to vote for Dunne. It is also nice having the Archbishops’ commentary back. Keep up the good work Maple Anglican.
It's close, but m'man Donne is lagging. In case he doesn't rally I'm preparing to loop a psalm of mourning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLMF5GM0Kt8
I cast my vote for John Donne earlier today and tuned in to see how things are going. I have great respect for whoever wrote Luke/Acts, but much affection for the flawed man whose imagery I love. Alas, the bell may toll for John tonight.
I agree that whoever wrote Luke/Acts deserves our respect. I also agree with most biblical scholars who have concluded that Luke did not write Luke/Acts. The Gospel of Luke is mostly a retelling of Mark and could have had any munber of authors. Biblical scholars now agree that Acts was most likely written by a Jew and Luke was purportedly a Gentile. Add in the fact that dates do not add up and that Luke did not actually witness events that are reported in that gospel and I think that the verdict is in. Far better to vote for the actual author as it seems that too many "saints" have a padded resume.
Regardless as to who wrote Luke and Acts, I vote LUKE.
Oh, should I ever write a book, I hope my name continues to be attributed to it. Mmm, I wonder what Luke would make of this hearty discussion?
Man, I wanted to vote for the patron saint of brewers since I will be bottling this weekend, but Donne rocks!
With apologies to and prayers for Laurie, I had to go with Luke.
This is one of those happy match-ups where I'm perfectly content with either party winning; I'm in a Bible study for Luke right now and absolutely loved Donne when I worked with his writings in college.
I do, though, add my voice to the chorus of prayers and well-wishes for healing, Laurie. And, as ever, congratulate you on a beautiful write-up!
John Donne. Ann Donne. Un-done.
But wouldn't Ann be More-Donne?
Get well, Laurie...
To help you feel better...just think of our skit back at the GTS Follies...no, wait, I don't want you to laugh!
Grace and Peace,
Diaper-Boy
St. Luke -- our parish's patron Saint --- how could I NOT vote for him????
I just Donne't know what to do. This match-up is almost unholy! My heart cannot choose between Emmaus, Pentecost, and "so that they would search for God and perhaps grope an find him" and this poem about the feast of the Annunciation falling "on the Passion" (Good Friday, Palm Sunday?). http://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/Upon_the_Annunciation_and_Passion_Falling_upon_One_Day._1608
It reminds me of the day a few years ago when I found out that one high school friend had just died from a brain tumor, then one hour later got an e-mail from another high school friend was surprisingly, miraculously pregnant.
This poem has always been a top 10 favorite http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/holy-sonnet-xiv-batter-my-heart-three-personed-g/
But I'm not Donne-for, because the last two times I have see my spiritual director, she has given me Acts 17:27 as my meditation, so it is in thankfulness for her wisdom (and a little crossing the fingers that this falls under the spiritual discipline of obedience), I humbly cast my vote for Luke. The Rev. Donne, I will rejoice upon our meeting in the eternal communion, and look forward to hearing even more glorious songs.
Luke it is, even though I always like to vote for the sexy saint in these match-ups. Alas, sexiness in this case was not enough for a Donne deal!
Laurie, my prayers are with you for a complete recovery, and on that note I find
Luke the winner of my vote today. Luke's healing is still going on today -
Empowering God’s people throughout the world with Jesus’ healing ministry.