After a weekend in which people around the globe wore green, marched in parades, celebrated Irish heritage, and wondered how in the world St. Patrick could have lost to Constance in the first round of Lent Madness 2011, we're back for another full week of saintly thrills and spills! Believe it or not, we're halfway through the Round of 32 with eight contests decided and eight more to go.
To catch everyone up, on Friday, Ephrem of Nisibis routed Mellitus 70% to 30% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen, where he'll face John Chrysostom. Today, we're back to our Biblical saints as Tabitha squares off against Dismas on the plush purple carpet of the Lent Dome.
Stay tuned as later today Tim and Scott will release another epic episode of Monday Madness. For the uninitiated, the award-winning* Monday Madness is a production of the Supreme Executive Committee of Lent Madness, featuring high production values and even higher content value. These brief, split screen videos filmed live and (believe it or not) always in a single take, offer color commentary and inside information on issues related to Lent Madness. For the true aficionado of the Saintly Smackdown it is must-see-TV.
*Fine - "award-winning."
Tabitha
Actions speak louder than words. At least, they do in the story of Tabitha, also known as Dorcas, recorded in the book of Acts. Few words are spoken in the text, and Tabitha herself never speaks, but we learn about her from her own actions and the actions of others on her behalf.
We learn she was always doing good and helping the poor. We learn from the two men who run to Peter to urge him to come at once when Tabitha dies that she is known and loved by the community of believers in Joppa.
We learn from the widows who show up—crying and showing Peter the clothing and robes she has made for them—that her ministry provides for some of the most marginalized in society.
We learn from the words Peter speaks—“Tabitha, get up!”—how important he believes she and her ministry are both to the community and to the early church. We learn from her response, opening her eyes and sitting up when she sees Peter, how powerful the God she served is.
We learn from the fact Peter then presents Tabitha to the disciples—and especially, the text notes, to the widows—how central these women are to Tabitha and to the early church in a patriarchal society in which it was believed women “belonged” to a man and widows were left vulnerable.
Tabitha gives us an example of an ordinary believer in the early church and how the work of the people in the pews quietly providing for others’ needs—collecting school supplies and lining pantry shelves and volunteering for service projects—is just as important as the work of those out front, leading the church.
Today, Tabitha is celebrated in several Christian traditions, oftentimes alongside two other important women in the early church: Lydia, a successful businesswoman and early convert to The Way, and Phoebe, a leader in the church at Cenchreae who delivered Paul’s letter to the Romans. Their varied ministries show there is more than one way for women to follow Jesus.
Collect for Tabitha
Most Holy God, whose servant Tabitha you raised from the dead to display your power and confirm your message that your Son is Lord; grant unto us your grace, that aided by her prayers and example, we may be given a new life in your Spirit to do works pleasing in your sight; Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Dismas
Dismas spent his life as a thief—eyeing something until greed overtook him, looking around to see if anyone could catch him, then maneuvering his body at just the right angle for the sleight of hand.
Why did Dismas do it? Did he need to steal in order to feed his family? Was he taking bread so that he might provide nourishment for eager and hungry mouths?
Or was Dismas consumed with jealousy? He could intuit the value of things and people. So, when Dismas saw the shine of coins or the sparkle of jewels, did he salivate with longing? Did he yearn to possess what belonged to his neighbor? Did he covet what he did not earn?
There are only a few things we know for sure about Dismas: He was a thief. He was caught stealing and sentenced to death. At the end of his life, people mocked Dismas as he hung on a tree. The slow torture happened publicly, as a warning to anyone who might consider stealing.
It’s hard to understand then why Dismas is included in our saintly line-up. What did he do to gain such recognition?
The Roman soldiers crucified Dismas next to two other men—another criminal and Jesus of Nazareth. The other offender mocked Jesus, jeering along with the soldiers and crowds, asking why Jesus wouldn’t save himself.
Dismas stood up to the bully, asking, “Do you not fear God?” Dismas pointed out that Jesus was innocent and didn’t deserve to die. Then Dismas pulled off the greatest heist of his life. While he was hanging on the cross, with the piercing pain of nails in flesh and the humiliating mob below him, as he gasped with collapsing lungs and felt the full weight of his crimes, Dismas asked Jesus for something that he didn’t earn or deserve. He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
The two men died together. They suffered together, feeling their lashed skin stinging in the dry air. And yet, even among that harsh brutality, Dismas had the hope of paradise.
Collect for Dismas
God of grace, we thank you for your forgiveness, even when we deserve punishment. We thank you for the gift of those who suffer with us and for the continued hope that we might someday share joy with them. Through Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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177 comments on “Tabitha vs. Dismas”
Let the one who is without sin.......
This matchup reminds me of the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, in which the laborers who worked all day get bent out of shape when those hired in the last hour of the day get the same wages they get. This parable is often hard for some parish old-timers to hear -- the same folks who want their church to grow, but get nervous or even apoplectic when the faces in the pews and the customs of the congregation start changing; and seem to think that longevity in the parish should accord people a larger vote in church affairs. I appreciate and respect the Tabithas I have known, faithfully -- and diaconally! -- serving as needed in often quiet ways. But Dismas reminds us all that God's grace is grace, wide and generous enough to include us all. The wages of a lifetime of loving service and the wages of sin, repented from, are the same: eternal life and peace and joy in the embrace of divine mercy and Love. Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner -- and Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Thank you for pointing out the resemblance to that parable! I hadn't thought of it, but I bet the SEC did. 🙂 It's so there. And it shows up in the comments saying that Dismas isn't a true saint or as good as Tabitha because his actions came at the very end of his life. No, that's the whole point. Your comment identified for me why I chose Dismas better than I articulated it in my own mind myself. Not that I'll weep when she wins, but he is the one who speaks to me.
Dimas is my choice. He is a symbol for me that no one is beyond God's grace. Truly, grace is freely given in even the worst of us. While I applaud Dorcas' charity, we are commanded to do such acts.
As a fellow stitcher, go Tabitha!
It is Dimas for me. “Jesus remember me” is my favorite Taize chant!
Not fair making us choose, but the perfect pairing for illustrating that it is never too late to be forgiven, and that leading a righteous life should be seen as a reward unto itself — not the only way to get into heaven.
(Let the debate of faith vs works begin :))
I think Tabitha was not dead but totally exhausted and depleted. When Peter came she opened her eyes and thought that there might be some help for her work even from this clueless male.
The almost Rev Doug
What an interesting interpretation.
I am sad more people are not voting for Dismas. He was one of the only few who recognized who this man, being brutally crucified, truly was. He is the first person to explicitly have the assurance of salvation. Jesus himself, in a sense, cast his vote for Dismas. How can I do otherwise?
I'm disappointed there isn't more support for the candidate who literally experienced the forgiveness and salvation of God from Jesus Christ. From Rite II of the Holy Eucharist:
"Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us
for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become
subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus
Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human
nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the
God and Father of all."
This is a much tougher choice than usual. I can’t decide...
I thought about voting for Dismas, in honor of Dismas House, a great organization serving the formerly incarcerated:
http://www.dismasisfamily.org/
Ultimately, though, I had to go with Tabitha, one of our foremothers in the church.
Another tough one for me. Dismas I love for the role he plays in Orthodox liturgies, where we join with him in his wish to be remembered by Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven. On the other hand, Dorcas models for us the life of service we all must embrace to follow Christ. I couldn’t read either story dry-eyed. I voted for Dismas because of the role he plays in my prayer life, but I welcome the coming victory of Dorcas for the help she gives me on the Way.
This was tough. I was ready to vote for Tabitha but then I read the story of Dimas. His ability to realize he been wrong in life and to ask Jesus for forgiveness just grabbed me. Will we all be that bold at the end?
Isn't it inspiring and comforting to know that no matter how bad our earthly life, faith an still save us?
I'm wondering if the SEC didn't choose to use the name Tabitha over Dorcas because if she gets into later rounds, it will be easier finding Tabitha kitsch vs. Dorcas kitsch?
They could always look for orcas' kitsch. There would be plenty of that.
I've always loved the story of Tabitha/Dorcas. It's inspiring to know that the seemingly small acts of service we do can be appreciated by others to such a degree and, more importantly still, they are viewed favorably by God.
I'm thinking that her Aramaic name, Tabitha, is how she was known on her home turf; maybe Dorcas is how she was known as her fame spread into Greek communities. But I'll bet you're right--there's lots of Tabitha kitsch, especially in vintage TV circles!
When I was in high school one of my
Teachers was a Franciscan Priest
And a theology teacher.
I asked him if all the saints we were taught
About were actually in heaven with Jesus.
He replied that there was no way of knowing,
But he would say that the only saint he was sure of being in heaven with Jesus would be
St.Dismas as he is the only one that Jesus actually said he would be in Paradise with Him
When he died and the both died together.
I guess Jesus saw the good in this mans soul
Since he didn’t curse God for his pain and suffering and felt he made his choice to be a thief knowing what punishment he may endure,
But instead asked for forgiveness from a higher court and even defended Jesus with his dying breath.
That is why I voted for Dismas
Oh what a choice. Tabitha enchanted me with her caring for others. I thought surely I will choose her. But then I was introduced to the thief. Oh - THAT thief! A thief who truly saw the truth, and reached out for it. In remembrance of Moses the Black, who also repented and turned his life around, I had to select St. Dismas.
For Dismus there is compassion, forgiveness and grace. I want Jesus to remember me when he comes into his kingdom.
My mother was an extremely talented needlewoman. Among other things, she sewed with a group of women who made beautiful smocked white baby dresses to give to parents whose child had died at or near birth, so the baby had something nice to be buried in. I read the story of Tabitha/Dorcas at my mother's funeral, so I had to vote for her.
I need to remember to read the comments before I vote. Fortunately, either is worthy.
I'm inspired by Tabitha's compassion and her service to others. She gets my vote.
And the tough choices just keep on coming! I had not realized who Dismas was, and was truly brought to my knees by the discovery, but I have long been an admirer of Tabitha/Dorcas, so in the end I gave her my vote.
This match-up was a difficult one for us!
It was a tough choice this time. Both Saints deserve a vote!
I know Tabitha will win, but I'm voting for Dismas, because like him, I do not deserve salvation. I hope I too will be in paradise with Christ one day.
Isn't it the Donatist heresy that says we must be perfect for the sacraments to work? The sacraments work without our being perfect. Grace works without our being perfect. Be at peace, sister. You don't have to be perfect. We do not win our salvation through our desert. For all, all have fallen short. But we are forgiven and perfected in Christ.
This was difficult. While Dismas was an example of Christ’s forgiveness and something I work on at times Tabitha has. my heart.
“The greatest heist of his life”: I don’t think so. If Dismas’s request of Jesus was one more attempted swindle, what would the point have been?
Dismas doesn’t ask to be with Jesus in Paradise; he asks only to be remembered. He may not even be able to conceive of salvation, much less his own. It is Jesus who answers Dismas with so great a gift.
Whoever Dismas may or may not have been in history, he is another of the iconic figures with whom scripture presents us, in this case an icon of ourselves. The diversity of Christian and other images of salvation and Paradise attest our inability to compass them.
We have devoted much time, energy, ink, and noise to the subject of salvation over these twenty centuries. Perhaps we would do better just to hope and pray to be remembered by Jesus, and to leave it to him to supply what God’s remembrance means for each of us.
Well said, Davis.
This is not a difficult choice for me. It’s all well and good to forgive Dismas, who was an eleventh hour penitent, but does that make him Golden Halo material? I think not.
Tabitha, on the other hand, spent her life tending to the less fortunate, and, to me, that has Golden Halo candidate written all over it.
Tabitha will win, and I won't be upset by that... but Dismas got my vote. A thief who was crucified for his crimes received assurance from Jesus that he would be with Him in paradise that day -- not after centuries in purgatory: that day! This gives me great hope!