After a rousing first day of Lent Madness 2020, in which Thomas More routed James the Less 68% to 32% amid heavy voting (over 10,000 votes cast), we're on to day two. And we've established, once and for all, that less is not more. At least in this year's edition of the Saintly Smackdown.
Today, you're invited to gird your loins for a battle of Biblical proportions as two Scriptural saints face off. Now, you may be aware that this year's bracket features a quartet of Elizabeths, one in each quadrant: The Biblical Elizabeth, Elizabeth of Hungary, Elizabeth the New Martyr, and Elizabeth Frye. Will the four Elizabeths make up the Faithful Four? Only time and your votes will tell (though the oddsmakers in Vegas are dubious).
Today we encounter the first of the four Elizabeths, she of the Bible, who takes on Andrew the apostle.
But before you read, reflect, and vote (hopefully in that order), we wanted to share an article about Lent Madness that appeared in the San Diego Union Tribune. Partly because it's a nice article about this little devotion of ours, but mostly because we like cities named for saints.
Also, note that tomorrow is the ONLY non-weekday vote of Lent Madness. Margery Kempe will square off against Eustace. So don't forget to head over here to make your pick.
Okay, enough blathering on. Time to see whether Elizabeth or Andrew will be cast out of Lent Madness 2020!
Andrew
Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother. When they were young, they learned to fish on the Sea of Galilee. They spent stormy afternoons together, watching the brooding clouds form and then wrestling the battering waves. They breathed in the calm days, floating on the gentle rhythm of the sea, staring into the horizon, talking about life, God, and meaning.
Sometimes Andrew and Peter fished late into the night. Under those glimmering stars, they must have looked at where the sky and sea met and wondered if there was something else for them, something more than nets and scales.
For many people, it would have been difficult to have Peter as a brother. Peter’s tongue spoke every word on his mind and his body followed every impulse. Living with Peter’s passion would have been overwhelming. Even as the authors compiled the gospel stories, the focus always seemed to gravitate toward Peter. Yet, Andrew didn’t seem to mind Peter’s big personality. When Jesus invited Andrew and Peter to follow him, Andrew didn’t hug Peter goodbye and wish him well on his adventure. Instead, Andrew dropped his nets and said farewell to the boats.
We get a glimpse of Andrew’s humility when we first meet him in the gospels, and that humble attitude marks Andrew to his death. Not only did Andrew follow Jesus, listening to his teaching, watching as he multiplied the loaves and fishes, and sharing the Last Supper with him, but after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, Andrew went on to preach in Thrace, Scythia, and Achaea. His journeys took him along the Black Sea and the Dnieper River.
In Achaea, Andrew was martyred. He refused to be nailed to a cross as Jesus was. Just as John the Baptist didn’t feel worthy enough to tie Jesus’ sandals and Peter couldn’t bear to have Jesus wash his feet, Andrew couldn’t imagine being executed on the same instrument of death. Instead, Andrew was tied to an X-shaped cross, which is now commonly known as a “Saint Andrew’s Cross.” Andrew became the patron saint of Scotland, Ukraine, Romania, and Russia.
Collect for Andrew
Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give unto us, who are called by your Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth of the Bible has her story told mostly in the Gospel of Luke. She was the mother of John the Baptist, and a relation of some kind — most likely a cousin — to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The name Elizabeth literally means “God has sworn,” an idea that was prominent in Elizabeth’s life. When we meet her in Luke’s Gospel, she is already married to Zechariah, a high priest in the temple. Tradition holds that Elizabeth, too, would have been a member of the priestly class.
When Zechariah fails to believe the word of the angel who announces the birth of John, the angel, in a fit of holy pique, strikes him mute until he can shape up. Luckily, Elizabeth is there to rescue her erstwhile husband, name her son John, and restore his voice to him. Although Elizabeth doesn’t even receive a visit from the angel, she believes enough that she accepts the divine gift of her pregnancy and, in turn, passes the gift of acceptance onto her cousin.
When Mary, her unwed teenaged cousin, arrives on her doorstep, it is Elizabeth who provides Mary shelter and it is to Elizabeth that Mary sings the triumphant Magnificat. Elizabeth, notably, doesn’t ask Mary where the baby came from, or what is going on — Elizabeth simply welcomes her with open arms.
The writer of Luke doesn’t opine on what sort of mother Elizabeth was, or really, what sort of person she was, but between correcting her husband, sheltering an outlandish cousin, and raising John the Baptist, one can imagine she must have been quite the force.
The only other account we receive of Elizabeth is from one of the non-canonical gospels — the Infancy Gospel of James. It records the tradition of Elizabeth and baby John the Baptist fleeing from Herod’s genocidal soldiers. When Elizabeth cries out to the mountains for shelter, the mountain splits open and hides her and the baby.
It’s worth noting that Elizabeth is hailed as a holy figure by a wide range of faith traditions, groups as diverse as Islam to the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Though we don’t have much concrete information about her, Elizabeth’s legacy of hospitality, courage, and compassion left a lasting impact.
Collect for Elizabeth
Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Elizabeth, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with him attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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222 comments on “Andrew vs. Elizabeth”
It's a safe guess that JBap was a challenging teenager, and that Zechariah and Elizabeth had no few moments of hand wringing. Locusts? Wild honey? She gets my vote.
I admire Andrew's "drop everything" response to Jesus to follow him, so Andrew got my vote today.
Have to go with Elizabeth ,my great granddaughter's name ,am excited for this Lenten madness as it rolls on.
My mother was a Sarah (which means princess), and an Elisabeth (dedicated to God). She took her name seriously, and lived it. So to Elizabeth, my vote goes.
My daughter is also named Sarah Elizabeth. I also have a sister named Elizabeth, and my mother, so that's who I voted for too.
Andrew is another of the overlooked saints. Like Barbabus, he brought in the big names and continued to that work without the fame.
My heart loves Elizabeth, but I’m casting my ballot for Andrew, the patron of my parish.
This is a hard one. I have a nephew named Andrew and a niece named Elizabeth, so this one is all in the family.
I was all set to vote for Andrew, another oft-forgotten apostle. I loved his biography's perspective on what it was like to be the lesser-known sibling. Bless his heart!
Then I remembered that Elizabeth in her childless years was one of my special saints (with Sarah, Hannah, and the woman with the 12-year flow) who walked with me through some very painful times. I have to stand with her today.
Great Collects, both!
There once was a brother from Galilee
Who fished all night on the stormy Sea
His brother was loud
Which brought him no clout
But his faithfulness brought many to Calvary
Nice one!
Really tough one. I'm an older mother who has a son--Andrew. Bearing the burden of having three sisters my Andrew has been, at times, a handful, but always loving and good. So I was torn but ended up voting for Elizabeth, welcoming, non-judgmental, and always there.
We agree on a vote! Also, casting my vote for Elizabeth. She had her hands full with her husband and son.
Yay, Diane! You are a blessing, even if our votes are, often, wildly different.
Since I attend St. Andrew of the Valley Episcopal Church in Tamworth, NH which proudly flies the Saltire (St Andrew's Cross) at the front door, I have to go with Andrew here. Plus, Scotland is my heart's home after 4 trips to that beautiful country. GO ANDREW!
Believe the Women!
Don't tell my son, Andrew, but today it is Elizabeth for this older mother.
The story of how Zechariah lost his speech shows that even angels have tempers. How inspiring for us humans!
Hmm. Andrew is, like many I have seen, the quieter yet more courageous brother in so many ways. He could live and work with a "heart on his sleeve" sibling who acted before he thought and threw himself at whatever passion he was currently fixated on. Andrew had strengths that many don't realize.
Elizabeth is every woman in my church. She takes control when her husband (Or son, I'm sure) freaks out, and rarely if ever questions God's plans. She loves unconditionally and whole heartedly no matter who you are or what predicament you find yourself in.
So, do I vote for the brother of someone with ADHD, or someone that could be a grandmother in my church? I will pray on it and accept that 'it will be as God wills it.' (Something my gram used to say. I think I have my answer.)
I almost voted for Andrew because one of my two favorite chapels in Gloucester Cathedral where I was confirmed is St. Andrew’s chapel, but Elizabeth’s life and witness won me over.
Elizabeth!!
I was baptized at St Andrew’s, Newark, and married at St Andrew’s, Valparaiso-his humility, his bringing his brother to Jesus, his willingness to play necessary roles behind the scenes have always endeared him to me. If I ever claimed a personal patron saint, it would be Andrew.
My son Andrew, named after Peter's brother, has an older brother a bit like Peter. andrew had always been the more modest one. I go with Saint Andrew.
I have to vote for Andrew. My husband, named Andrew, is 1 of 9 siblings and all are named after saints.
I hope everyone doesn't vote for Elizabeth just because the moderators mentioned that all 4 Elizabeth's could make it to the final 4.
Andrew deserves to move on. I love the history and use of Andrew's Cross.
OK, so Zechariah was struck dumb when he questioned God's angel. After his tour of duty, he went home and Elizabeth became pregnant and nine months later all the friends and neighbors were amazed when Elizabeth said the baby was to be named John. HOW DID SHE KNOW THAT? Zechariah couldn't speak. I can only conclude that Elizabeth knew how to read, and communicated with her husband during her pregnancy in writing. Wouldn't it have been unusual for a woman even of the priestly class to have been taught to read in those days? I fondly believe that Zechariah himself taught her to read, during those long, childless years.
Maybe the angel spoke to Elizabeth, too?
It is quite common in Medieval imagery to portray St Anne teaching Mary to read, so I guess that it was assumed that women at that time could read. We have a stained glass window in our church showing a young Mary holding a book with Anne beside her. I'm not sure where the idea came from though.
You didn’t mention a role of Andrew’s I love. When we see him, he is the one who brings someone else to Jesus. Definitely his brother. I think the child with the loaves and fish as well.
You sure didn’t make it easy with this one, however, I went with Andrew’s humility.
Not mentioned above: Luke reports that when the newly pregnant Mary met the already pregnant Elizabeth, "the child leaped in her womb"--John "saluting" Jesus. Jewish writings of the period foretell that on the messiah's conception, wombs everywhere will "quicken"; the "womb" of the world is a powerful metaphor in John and Paul as well (and 4 Ezra). Luke gives but a glimpse of the powerful womanly metaphor.
Elizabeth gets my vote! Woman are the strongest between the two humans, we cook, clean, carry a child for most 9 months, expected to love, care for and cook and clean all in our 24 hour day! Men go, out to bring In The food and then sit and wait for,it,to be prepared! It was predicted that a Elizabeth would bear The saint to, prepare the way for our Saviour Jesus Christ by an unknown woman named Mary, Elizabeth’s cousin, Nothin more needs to be said, it was already ordained by GOD THE FATHER!
Bloggers, watch the details! Galilee is a small lake surrounded by hills - there is no "sky meets the horizon on the sea" line! Elizabeth - God has sworn? Maybe - but also, "house (bet[h]) of God." And it's not church tradition, but Luke himself who tells us Elizabeth was of the priestly line - descendant of Aaron. And Zechariah was a rotating-in priest, not high priest, not even one of the four corrupt chief priestly families! I look to Lent Madness to learn about saints, correctly!
But, my vote is for Elizabeth, who clearly was one of the very few literate women of her day.
And I am trying to wrap my head around how the fishermen can "wrestle" with something that is "battering" them. But that's part of the excitement here at Lent Mixed Metaphors. The revelations and piety surpass the bounds of human language!
Galilee isn’t so small — it’s about 13 miles long and 64 square miles. At ground level the horizon is about 3 miles away. So there could very well be a sea-sky horizon.
I voted for the "older mother." I have in mind an icon that depicts Mary and Elizabeth embracing; the icon shows a baby in the womb of each. Elizabeth was the first to recognize the special baby: "And why has the mother of my lord come to visit my house?" So as the Magdalene is apostle to the apostles by being first to witness to the resurrection, perhaps Elizabeth is the apostle to the theotokos by being first to witness to the sacredness of this pregnancy. I have never been fond of the whole "unwed teenager" thing; I find it irritating and a sentimentalizing of a genuine social problem. But I am fascinated by the twinning in the story: the paired cousins, the bifurcated narratives. As always in the Hebrew stories, the younger supplants the older. As Jacob supplanted Esau, so Jesus supplanted John. If only we knew what went on between Mary and Elizabeth in the three months Mary spent with her. Elizabeth seems to have been a healing, nurturing presence. If we are looking for a maternal figure in the Bible, we need look no further than Elizabeth.
"Like."
As a little sister to a “shining star”, pain-in-the-neck big brother, this Scot is on Team Andrew.
St. Celia, I love your thought processes, especially on the cousin parallels. I was actually thinking of trying my hand at making icons as a Lenten discipline and you gave me the perfect inspiration for my imperfect skill. I'm not promising to post what I draw - we'll see how it comes out!
Also I believe Elizabeth was first one to recognize Jesus identity becoming the prophet who was in her womb.
There are so many reasons that I’ve always loved the apostle Andrew: primarily because of the Gospel of John, Chapter 1: 40, where two of the first disciples were told by Jesus, “Come and see.” This Lent I feel directly challenged to “stay with him” throughout these 40 days. And as the following verses say, Andrew was the first disciple, who then who then found his brother Simon Peter, declaring “We have found the Messiah.” I attended St Andrew’s in Amarillo for 47 years, where I learned, prayed, and was blessed by a living community. The first Apostle gets my vote!