Did you miss us? Well, we're back for the first full week of Lent Madness action! Hopefully you survived the past 24 hours with no voting -- we know it can be tough on the Lenten psyche.
One thing you may not know is that our Bracket Czar, Adam Thomas, wakes up early every morning to updated the online bracket. This is a great service to you, faithful voters, because he also posts links to all the previous battles. This will come in especially handy in subsequent rounds when you want to revisit those early rounds as you make an educated choice based on the all saintly write-ups.
In case you missed the news on Facebook or Twitter, Mechtild of Magdeburg easily swept past Isaac the Syrian on Saturday 77% to 23% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen. A few folks have lamented about the lack of close contests in the first round. This happens sometimes but...just wait.
John Wycliffe
“The morning star of the English Reformation,” John Wycliffe is best known for his translations of the Vulgate into Middle English and his attempts to reform church structures in England. A philosopher, theologian, professor, and translator, Wycliffe was condemned by the Council of Constance after his death—his bones were dug up and burned.
Born in England in the mid-1320s, Wycliffe centered his life and work at Oxford University—his intellectual home and frequently his physical address. He came of age during the Black Death, living through the upheaval caused by the plague. The dramatic changes caused by the Black Death prompted many cultural questions, and Wycliffe extended his questioning into theology and church organization. Wycliffe was drawn to the Platonist spirit of Augustine of Hippo—students frequently referred to him as “John of Augustine.” Under the influence of both Plato and Augustine, Wycliffe added his voice to a growing undercurrent in medieval theology that questioned the political power, the wealth, and control of the clergy embodied in the hierarchy based in Rome.
Contrary to popular belief, there was no official blanket ban on translating the scriptures into the languages of the common people. However, most of these texts either contained commentary clarifying Church teaching or were paraphrases written from the perspective of Church teaching. Wycliffe rejected any kind of clerical control and issued his new literal translation in order to separate the word of scripture from the Church’s interpretation of it. This position drew the wrath of church authorities and a condemnation by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Arundel.
Wycliffe protested the wealth and political power of the Church and advocated for a religious institution stripped of its wealth, lands, and titles that would be under the authority of the king and the nobles. Not surprisingly, theologically sympathetic, powerful nobles protected him from enemy clerics. Toward the end of his life, Wycliffe’s teachings against the conventional understanding of the sacraments, including the physical presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the necessity of confession, turned many of his former political allies against him.
Collect for John Wycliffe
Stir up in us, O God, the zeal for your Word that inspired your servant John Wycliffe that we, like him, may boldly challenge stifling systems and cling to the promises of your power and presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Moses the Black
Moses the Black was born in Ethiopia around 330. As a young man he left Ethiopia for adventures in Egypt. A servant to a wealthy Egyptian landowner, Moses surreptitiously stole from his boss, lining his pockets with the profits. When the man discovered Moses’ perfidy, he expelled Moses 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. Inspired by their contented piety, Moses converted to Christianity and renounced violence and carousing.
Sometime later, when four robbers assaulted the monastery, Moses stood his ground and tied up the would-be thieves, bringing them to the brothers to ask advice about the robbers’ punishment. He suggested that it would not be very Christian to repay violence with violence. The robbers were so moved by the compassion of the monks that they joined the monastery. On another occasion, Moses was summoned to a council to pass judgment on a brother. Going to council reluctantly, Moses carried a leaking jug of water into the meeting. His brothers were perplexed; Moses replied that his sins follow behind him but he did not see them and yet he was coming to judge another. The brothers were moved by this gesture and forgave the offending monk.
Moses ultimately became abbot of a community in the desert, and despite enduring racist stereotyping, he was later ordained a priest. In 405 he was warned of marauding Berbers plotting to attack his monastery. Moses sent all but a few of the monks from the monastery, insisting that the building and the brothers would not respond to any attacks with violence. “Those that live by the sword die by the sword,” he reminded his brothers. He and the remaining cohort of monks welcomed the bandits with open arms and were killed.
In his recounting of the ancient church, historian Salminius Sozomen remarked of Moses, “No one else ever made such a change from evil to excellence.” Moses is a shining example of the transformative power of the gospel and is the patron saint of nonviolence.
Collect for Moses the Black
Almighty God, whose blessed Son guides our footsteps in the way of peace: Deliver us from paths of hatred and violence, that we, following the example of your servant Moses, may serve you with singleness of heart and attain to the tranquility of the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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285 comments on “John Wycliffe vs. Moses the Black”
I voted for Moses the Black because he reminded me of David (the King of Judah) -- chosen of God to bandit to king. Also Ethiopia is one of the few countries mentioned in the Bible which still exist and I've been there a couple of times.
John Wycliff for questioning power and control. And for speaking truth to power....
There are so many people like Wycliff in church history that speak to power from a position of power, and not enough recognition of people who show the power of Christ to heal in a manner embodied by Moses the Black, so he gets my vote.
Moses the Black exemplifies the beautiful Christ-like quality of nonviolence toward your fellowman!
I'm a polyglot, so if I can do half the good that Wycliffe did, I will be humbly proud of my life.
To die for non-violence! Is that faith or works? Moses the Black knew.
Close call with Black's conversion and ultimately becoming a deacon. But, got to go with Wycliffe. Even though John Wycliffe died peacefully at home in bed on New Year’s Eve, the Church exhumed his body 44 years later, burned his bones, and scattered the ashes in a nearby river. Surely that rates a vote.
Even before I read about Moses, I was leary of John Wycliffe. I admired him for criticizing the wealth and power of the church, a real issue, but I wasn't sure about the idea of transferring that power over to the kings - out of the frying pan and into the fire! Moses' conversion and subsequent actions of forgiveness and nonviolence appealed to me more.
For me, this was the toughest choice so far. I really wanted to vote for Wycliffe, but in the end, I voted for Moses. The leaking jug metaphor is what did it.
let's go moses!
I'm going with Moses!
I have to agree with everyone, yet another tough choice. I have loved Moses and his jug for some time. However, were it not for Wycliffe, would we have ever learned of Moses the (Ethiopian) Black from a much different church? Wycliffe chose to speak the truth to power in a time when it may have meant being burnt at the stake. Moses on the other hand, turned people's hearts by example. Why does the Supreme Executive Committee make these decisions so difficult??
Because they love to watch us suffer, Ann. Just kidding!
I don't know where folks are getting the idea that a vote for John Wycliffe is not a vote for nonviolence!
Gotta go with Moses the Black this morning both as the patron saint of non-violence and wonderful example of the power of grace and forgiveness. As a English language geek I was almost swayed by the translation argument until I realized Moses translated the bible too, he translated it into actions and you don't have to read English to understand it. Thanks Lent Madness☺
I voted for Moses; he has been one of my favorite saints for many years now.
I voted for John Wycliffe but while reading about Moses was happily reminded of one of my very favorite children' books - "The Three Robbers" by Tommy Ungerer.
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i voted for moses because anyone can change!!!
Toughest choice yet, and we've just begun. Wanting to vote for Moses the Black but Wycliffe speaking truth to power is tugging at me. Still.praying over it.
I voted for Moses. Just shows there is hope for all.
My wife is Catholic, and so we were married in a Catholic church. During our talks with the priest during the preparation for the wedding, he asked who I would have chosen as a confirmation saint. Without missing a beat, I replied "Moses the Ethiopian, the patron saint of non-violence."
Imagine my parents' surprise when, during the ceremony, the priest introduced my wife and I by our full names, inserting "Moses" into the middle of mine!
I was torn but in the end had to go with Wycliffe A difficult decision.
As someone whose life was transformed by the Gospel (not to mention being turned upside down and shaken vigorously), I had to vote for Moses the Black!
The leaking jug and sins is one of the best illustrations of sinning unaware and forgiveness, just Google it. I am so glad to learn about Abba Moses and look forward to more.
It was a tough vote for me but I voted for Moses because of his commitment to transformation not only his own but others as well.
Wycliffe's contribution lasted long after he died. Thanks for opening the Good Book for everyone.
David Creech wrote the Moses piece so well and compellingly, I had to vote for him.
Boy, this was the toughest one yet! Wycliffe was certainly a theologian/leader who positively influenced the future of Christianity. That being said, I voted for Moses because, in this day and age, we need shining examples of people who turn from bad deeds to GREAT deeds and live out their new commitment.
You had me at the dribbling water bucket, Moses.
Two great stories of the faith, and a very difficult choice. I went for Wycliffe in the end because his action touched more and many directly. But it was not a slam dunk. Moses the Black's story reached out to me strongly... the epitome of God's ability to change us, and for lives to go on in new ways. I'd never heard of him, and grateful to lent madness for introducing him to me.