We trust everyone survived their weekend-long bout with LMW (Lent Madness Withdrawal). We realize it's tough to make it through an entire two days devoid of saintly voting. Yet congratulations are in order as you have all made it through this agonizing "wilderness" experience. The good news is that another full week of intense Lent Madness action begins right now!
Be sure to check out Maple Anglican's latest video as Archbishops John and Thomas preview the week ahead and answer some viewer mail. And if that's not enough to get your Lent Madness jets going, we invite you to watch and re-watch the FOX News story about Lent Madness that aired all over the country this weekend.
Today we encounter a Biblical saint baptized by Paul and a fourth-century Ethiopian who embodies the whole idea of "once was lost and now am found." Lydia was a strong woman in faith and determination; Moses the Black was a strong man both spiritually and physically.
Lydia
Lydia is considered the first documented convert to Christianity in Europe. Yet for someone who had such a large impact on Christian history, what we know of Lydia’s story is slight. She appears only in Acts 14, praying by the river near Philippi, as Paul and Silas come by on their mission to Macedonia of preaching the gospel. Lydia listens attentively, volunteers for baptism along with her household, and insists that Paul and Silas stay at her house while they are in the neighborhood. We know Lydia was a God-fearer, a Gentile who worshipped the Jewish God but hadn’t officially converted. She lived in a town that didn’t have enough Jewish faithful to sustain a synagogue of its own, so they met outside by a river. Lydia was determined.
We know she was head of her household: Scholars differ on this, but the author of Luke and Acts never mentions a husband, and it is likely that if she had a husband, she would not have been running the business and making hospitality decisions as she did. Lydia was in charge.
We know she was prosperous. The purple dyes that she made were highly prized, [perhaps because one day it would become the official color of Lent Madness]. Used to color the textiles of royalty, the purple dye came from carnivorous sea snail mucous, and as one might imagine, the retrieval process was arduous and slow-going. (And I imagine it really irritated the snails.) So the resulting dye was incredibly expensive. The colloquialism for children of royalty was “born into purple.” Plus, given the root of her name, it is likely that she and her household moved at some point from Thyatira (located in modern Turkey) to Macedonia (in Greece), where she encountered Paul. That took money.
We know Lydia was hospitable: she welcomed Paul and Silas into her home after she heard them preach, and she provided for them out of her resources. It was out of this small beginning that the church of Philippi was born—and we later get the Letter to the Philippians. From her conversion, hospitality, providence, and generosity, on an entire continent sprung into the gospel.
Today, there is a church dedicated to Saint Lydia on the site where she was baptized, as well as several in Macedonia. She is a canonized saint in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, with the Orthodox even titling her as “Equal to the Apostles.”
Lydia’s life of determined faithfulness resonates still through the ages, and bears fruit, even to today.
Collect for Lydia (and Dorcas and Phoebe)
Filled with your Holy Spirit, gracious God, your earliest disciples served you with the gifts each had been given: Lydia in business and stewardship, Dorcas in a life of charity and Phoebe as a deacon who served many. Inspire us today to build up your Church with our gifts in hospitality, charity and bold witness to the Gospel of Christ; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Moses the Black
Also known as Moses of Ethiopia, Moses the Black was born around 330. As a young man, he left Ethiopia for adventures in Egypt. He found himself a servant to a wealthy Egyptian landowner. Moses would surreptitiously steal from his boss, lining his pockets with the profits. When the man discovered Moses’ perfidy, he expelled him from his house.
Moses, a large and formidable man, gathered around him other bandits. Together they robbed and harassed people living in the Egyptian countryside. As he was fleeing the authorities, he took refuge among monks in Sketes, a desert community outside of Alexandria. In time, inspired by their contented piety, Moses converted to Christianity and renounced his former ways of violence and carousing. Legend has it that four robbers once assaulted his monastery. Moses stood his ground, and with his bare hands, he unarmed and tied up the would-be thieves. He brought them to the other monks and asked their advice. Moses suggested that it would not be very Christian to repay violence with violence. The bandits were so moved by the compassion of the monks that they too joined the monastery.
On another occasion, Moses was summoned to a council to pass judgment on a brother who had committed a fault. Moses refused. Urged by the priests to join the council, Moses grabbed a leaking jug of water (some say it was sand) and carried it into the meeting. Perplexed by this, the brothers asked him what he was doing. He replied that like the trail of water, his sins follow behind him but he did not see them, and yet he was being asked to judge another man. The brothers were moved by this gesture and forgave the man straightaway.
Moses ultimately became abbot of a community in the desert and was later ordained a priest. In 405, he was warned of marauding Berbers from North Africa who intended to attack his monastery. Moses sent away all but six or seven of the monks and insisted to those who stayed that they not respond to any attack with violence. “Those who live by the sword die by the sword,” he reminded his brothers. He and the monks welcomed the bandits. All of the monks, including Moses, were killed.
Early church historian Samilinius Sozomen wrote of Moses the Black that “no one else ever made such a change from evil to excellence.” Moses is a shining example of the transformative power of the gospel. He is the patron saint of nonviolence.
Collect for Moses the Black
God of transforming power and transfiguring mercy: Listen to the prayers of all who, like Abba Moses, cry to you: “O God whom we do not know, let us know you!” Draw them and all of us from unbelief to faith and from violence into your peace, through the cross of Jesus our Savior; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
-- David Creech
Vote!
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196 comments on “Lydia vs. Moses the Black”
Admirable as they both are, I must vote for Moses, because of my dog named Moses who was transformed from a near starved "un-rescued" puppy-mill dog into a lovable well-fed and happy non-violent presence in my life when he was accepted into the sacred order of Holy Smoke and the Prophets. And didn't some one say earlier something about by virtue of his monastic community, he was indeed a dog-lover?!
. . . New Skete Monastery in NY raises and trains German Shepherds -- I think the connection to this Moses is a stretch.
Luke and other New Testament writers did not have video cameras to record "history". Even in these days where we do have such devices, talk to multiple eyewitnesses at some event and they will tell different stories. That does not make their accounts false. Paul and Silas are well-known to be real persons, why would Lydia not be? Suggestions that she was not do NOT meet the test of Ockham's razor! (Look up William of Ockham -- he should probably be in this Lent Madness, he was a Franciscan Friar and philosopher).
This was not an easy choice, but Lydia did not have it easy either -- a woman doing the things she did was not well-accepted, it was a patriarchal society! And on top of that becoming a believer in the Jewish God and then a Christian in a world that did not accept all that ..... That's why I voted for Lydia!
I wonder about Lydia and assuming that she does not have a husband. Reading through the Book of Acts teaches me that there is a difference between a woman's place in Greek Society and a woman's place in Hebrew Society. Paul treats women in each society differently. Lydia was in a position within her society to spread the Gospel of Christ. I sense she would be a force to be reckoned with - whether she was married or not.
I want to vote for both (would be nice if secular elections were like that), but since I can only vote for one, I decided to go with the martyr.
How could Moses be losing?
I know.... I can't believe it either. I can totally relate to having my sins trail me..... His story is a story for our time. We all need forgiveness.
I love Lydia! A strong, intelligent, sensitive and faithful lady. "Equal to the Apostles." I feel so much RESPECT for her. I'm having a ball with this year's Lent Madness. I learn something new every day. Hats off and many thanks to the SEC, the Archbishops and our learned bloggers!
I thought for sure we would have St. Patrick to vote for today! I guess he didn't win his conference tournament... So sad...
Good one!
Thanks to the FOX news story ! I love learning about saints and inspiring people. And you guys are hilarious! Only wish you didn't take yourselves and this Madness thing so seriously 😉 Can't wait to read and vote every day!
Lydia, because my principle for my bracket is to give preference to the women. There is a woman walking right now on pilgrimage to get the Equal Rights Amendment passed! Women continue to be systematically overlooked . And I agree (fwiw) with the person who commented that Moses should be known as "the Ethiopian" rather than as "the black"...
Jayne, Moses is losing because not all voters write thoughts for us to read. Nevertheless, he gets my vote as I hope some who are inclined to see violence as the first resort will read his bio and to change their minds and reform. God willing, a miracle could happen and the example of this saint just overwhelm them and cause them to turn their lives around. Stranger things have happened.
I liked how MtB "subdued" the monestary robbers and then converted them! I sort of wish the incident with the Berbers had turned out differently. More converts for Jesus Christ.
I went with Moses today. While I agree with an earlier poster that his last act might not have been wise, I imagine it came from the knowledge of what violence is really like and how hard it had been to give up. We have so few examples of what non-violence really is like. I'm happy to give him my vote!
All honor to Moses for his conversation to non-violence and the courage to live by his convictions. Nevertheless, Lydia gets my vote today. Having anything to share requires a sense of responsibility and generosity, and Lydia had both in abundance.
I won't vote for someone because they are male or female, but I do refuse to penalize Lydia for not starting out bad.
I love this!
My brother has been a correctional officer, weapons and self-defense instructor for California in a maximum security prison for 25 years. He is well respected by prisoners and as instructor to other security personal because of his fairness and his devotion to the exercise of Christian principles in all of his relationships. When asked why he chooses to work in this field, he says "I had a choose which side of the bars I wanted to live my life". As a young man, he was truly "a wide and crazy guy"! I admit a special appreciation for Moses the Black; however, I vote Lydia.
By voting Lydia, I wish to celebrate the more quiet following of those whose lives did not require a startling transformation. Sounds like Lydia's life was well in order and full of the abundance without a compelling need to change. I think it a good thing that we celebrate the serenity and comfort offered to strangers and guests by those of a softer footprint on the Christian landscape.
Lydia is inspiring and all but I want Moses to win today. I want to read his quirks and quotes in the next round. #MoreMo
Non violence would normally get my vote. However, I heard through the grapevine that Lydia used the purple dye for the wealthy and the poor ate escargot. I like that.
A very tough choice, yes. I love Moses' story. But I voted for Lydia because of her support of the church in its risky, embryonic stage--and probably well beyond. What a great example to us rich Americans of sacrificial giving, and the enormous benefit such support can be! Some of the quiet ministries of giving and serving are overlooked, as are women's nurturing roles. Good on you, Lydia and people like her!
The Girls Friendly Society study Lydia as part of their learning of women of the Church.
So glad to see her in Lent Madness.
I did a little pre-vote research on these two over the weekend and was prepared to vote for Moses based on his personal turn around. The more I thought about it though, the more I leaned toward Lydia. In the end Moses wasn't able to spread the word and influence the invaders, whereas Lydia contributed to the conversion of a continent.
It seems to me that it would have been more sensible to stand alone to the killers, letting the others flee or hide. So I am voting for the generous Lydia, who used good sense in supporting the new church.
I voted for Lydia. What a leap of faith! To be the first is always hard, but especially for a woman in that time. And she seems to just realize this is right and go forward.
However, I also have to say I was moved by the story of Moses. That's what is great about Lent Madness. We learn about so many great people of faith.
Des anyone else get confused this time of year? I was in my fantasy baseball draft the other night and caught myself thinking, "Do I take Clayton Kershaw, or hold out for one of the Wesley brothers?"
Lydia's my hero - I'm a dyer of fabric also. She courageously preached the Gospel, ran her own business, and was head of her household in a time when a husband would likely not permit such life choices. Moses the Black is a strong contender, but Lydia had a longer run at living as a Christian and no murderous behavior to repent.
Another tough choice, but after reading about both saints again just a few minutes ago, my vote has gone to Moses. Lydia was a generous and kind woman, but Moses really took charge of his life and made a dramatic change.
Or what would you say to "Moses turned his will toward God and God really took charge of his life and made a dramatic change?"
While I greatly admire Moses for his personal transformation, I'm not convinced that allowing himself to be murdered was a wise choice. He could have fled, leaving emptiness for the invaders and continuing to set an example for others. Lydia made a clear choice and lived by her choice, despite personal risk and without allowing herself to be martyred. While I am humbled by Moses' story, my vote today goes to Lydia.
How about pairing Moses the Black and Antony of Egypt some day? Do you want to vote for the one who impoverished his sister and sent her to the House of Virgins* or the one who chose a half-dozen monks to stand his (but maybe not their) ground and be killed? Please spare me the contestants who make such drastic decisions about others' lives. My vote goes to Lydia who seems to have impacted lives in a more positive way.
*I had to do it! No one else dared to reference the H of V today.
More stories about Moses from the website of the Orthodox Church in America - http://oca.org/saints/lives/2014/08/28/102414-venerable-moses-the-black-of-scete
On my system it is imperative to go to "see all comments" and then go back up ţo the top to get the vote option. People having problems voting might try that.
I also have to vote for Moses. It appears that when he converted, he completely left behind all of his old ways and truly "turned the other cheek". Lydia, while a good and christian woman, also appears to have been "able" to entertain Paul and Silas in her home. She more than likely would have been wealthy by the times standards because of the purple dye business. I am not doubting her christian beliefs, but to me, she didn't appear to make as big an impact to Christianity, IMHP.
In my bracket, I chose Lydia because she is such a strong symbol for women - but today, I read a powerful post about the need for Christians to pray for Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Church that promulgates hatred, as he lays dying (http://foldedandunfolding.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/nicodemus-and-the-lesson-of-fred-phelps-a-potentially-unpopular-view-of-a-well-hated-man/). I do not like Mr. Phelps. In fact, I despise everything for which he stands. And yet, I am called to show mercy, to pray for him, and to remember he is a beloved child of God. That post struck me to the core. And so, this day, I cast my vote for Moses the Ethiopian, who exemplified that to which we are called: a life of mercy, forgiveness and grace. (And as a missionary who lived in a violent place where religious hatred is endemic, I totally understand why Moses did what he did in the end - you cannot simply talk the talk; you have to walk the walk.)