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”
Tough choice. I have an older sister and always lived under her huge, glorious, wonderful shadow. We spent many evenings on the porch under the stars discussing God, family and politics and I miss her so much! So I feel Andrew and I would be kindred spirits, but I tend to be a mother hen and want to help those in need if my talents and meager resources can be of use. I believe and accept miracles as I have experienced a few and I don't listen to men who talk smack. I go to the mountains to refresh my spirit. Elizabeth wins.
Beautifully said, Joan. I wish I was as close with my siblings.
Too bad your research didn't reach as far as the Gospel of John. By John's account, Andrew wasn't the younger brother who tagged along when Peter decided to follow Christ. It was Andrew who (with an assist from Elizabeth's kid) recognized Jesus as the Messiah and brought Peter to see for himself (John 1:35-42)
Why do my favorites always have to be opposite each other!
To those who voted for Andrew because he chose is path and Elizabeth had hers chosen for her:the fact that Elizabeth, an older woman having her first child, accepted it, helped her husband deal with it, and raised her son to be equal to the task God gave him makes her a great role model for all women - who are not allowed choices and those who are.
To those who pointed out with out women accepting pregnancy, wanted or not, there would be no men - you are so right.
A more personal note to those who want to call an Elizabeth Liz -always be sure that person accepts it. I dislike seeing such a liting, meaningful name turned into a word that when heard reminds most people on a reptile. I happen to like reptiles but many don't.
No nee to guess who I voted for -
really tough choice, but as Elizabeth (on my driver's license ) had to go that way. I love how she believes even though she hasn't seen
I love both of these wonderful people, but this wasn’t really hard. While the first church I remember was St. Andrew’s and I’m of Scottish descent, I’m (more importantly) the mother of an Elizabeth and a long-time friend and admirer of Celebrity Blogger Megan.
One note perhaps of interest: there are some manuscripts that attribute the Magnificat to Elizabeth, not Mary.
I was so fascinated by your suggestion that Elizabeth said the Magnificat (a theory I had never heard) that I tried to find some analysis of it. The Catholic doctrinal experts are very resistant: "The evidence for the variant is extremely weak. There is no Greek support for it, and the testimony of Irenaeus is divided. ... The arguments are insufficient to give weight to a case which is already weak on textual grounds. ... The hymn should, then, be attributed to Mary." There you have it!
https://forums.catholic.com/t/where-did-this-come-from-elizabeth-said-the-magnificat/175258/3
It's long bothered me that Luke gave Zechariah a song, but not Elizabeth; Mary, but not Elizabeth; Simeon but not Anna.. I wish we knew their songs as well!
There is a line of scholarly thought which sees the many parallels between the Magnificat and thes Song of Hannah, and the situation of Elisabeth and that of Hannah, and speculate that Magnificat, indeed, was by Elizabeth.
Thank you for Lent Madness
Elizabeth is a great role model for us all.
This was tough. Both completely compelling. With the scotch-irish blood of a southerner gal form the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, I was pulled to Andrew, but in the end, a mother just had to best the child. This is SO fun. First time participating
and after 2 days, I'm hooked!
My son, who passed away in 2007, was an Andrew so I had to vote for Andrew!
Elizabeth's erstwhile husband? Doesn't seem to apply here. She was very much the loving, concerned wife. Her hubby comes back from his temple duties in a funk and unable to even tell her about it without a lot of papyrus and styli. Though a older woman in a long marriage, which has possibly not been filled with romance for quite a time, she holds and comforts him, he responds, and, lo, a child is coming--the long awaited fulfillment of their hopes. She gets my vote.
Very tough choice, I am not usually given to agonizing.
What a choice for the second day of this holy journey! My Scottish ancestry says "Andrew" while my life experience says "both-and"! My ministerial calling, to lead others to Christ, says "Andrew" and that's the one I'm choosing.
A recent sermon at our church pointed out that several Andrew stories in the NT say that he brought people to Jesus. (Starting with his brother Simon, later dubbed Peter.) So my vote goes to Andrew for his evangelistic gift - wish I had it, myself. Being someone's mother just doesn't move me as an especially saintly attribute, and I don't see that we know much else about Elizabeth.
This is a hard choice. Both Andrew and Elizabeth represent our sacred history and both revealed Jesus to us. History seems much closer with Andrew's call to humility and to death on an X-shaped cross.
But Andrew was the first evangelist after John the Baptist. He said, "Come and see." and so should we all. Had to give him my vote.
I like the line about the "unwed teenaged ... outlandish cousin," but I went with Andrew because I was, in my youth, to some extent overshadowed by a more illustrious brother. There's an interesting discussion of how Andrew became the patron saint of Scotland (a fact which seems to influence a lot of votes, and which Andrew himself obviously had nothing to do with) on a site called "Historic UK." Another site says he's also the patron saint of singers (hear hear!) and a protector against gout (?!?), one of which I am and the other of which I occasionally suffer from.
Both are worthy, but I went with Elizabeth. Her story, like most of the Biblical women, deserve more air time.
I know what it means to be a pain-in-the-neck brother. I've gotta go with Andrew in appreciation for my brother's humility.
“her erstwhile husband”?
Her former or previous husband?
Harsh!
The Visitation is the Bible story that passes the Bechdel Test!
[pins a prize on that comment]
This ones really hard! Baptized, confirmed, and married at St. Andrew’s Church, but my mother and one of our daughters are named Elizabeth. Hmmmm.
I'm strangely devoted to voting for people named Elizabeth this year. I wonder why?
🙂
In honor of my grandmother, I'm rooting for everyone named Elizabeth.
I like Andrew, who in his quiet way invited his brother to follow Jesus. And, as a child, I attended our church's morning brotherhood meeting (Andrew & Philip). It was a nice way to begin Sunday services.
Andrew's apostleship, evangelism, and martyrdom get my vote.
Not an easy decision. Both are inspirations to us and to their own families. I went with Elizabeth for several reasons--including having a niece of that name--but especially for her providing a place for Mary as she dealt with her own unexpected pregnancy.
Andrew is my vote for my favorite nephew is named after him. And he has an older brother who is named Peter. So I keeping them in the family. Oh, my sweet sister is Elizabeth but there are so many, maybe next time her name comes up. Only one Andrew.
Both great examples of humble faithfulness; both responsible in different ways for giving us two great witnesses for Christ, John the Baptist and Simon Peter. I love Andrew's behind-the-scenes discipleship, but I feel like everyone with a mother should vote for Elizabeth.
Patron saint of Scotland.
What is not to like?
Go, Andrew, Go!
Let's go, ladies-Elizabeth it is in honor of my goddaughter Amanda Elizabeth