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”
This was a difficult choice! Two very worthy saints, indeed.
Voted for Andrew in memory of my beloved son, Andrew who passed away in 2018.
Very sorry for your loss. May you feel comforted among this little band of pilgrims. Have a blessed Lent.
It had not occurred to me before this commentary on Elizabeth that her son, John, being just months older than Jesus, would have been a target of Herod’s, too. Ancient legend aside, I really do wonder how she kept him safe.
Hmm - son=in-law Andrew, sister-in-law and granddaughter Elizabeth - the Lizzies have it!
I found this vote one of the most difficult in the several years I have participated in Lenten Madness. Loved Andrew's humility --having Peter as a brother couldn't have been easy. Elizabeth in her unconditional love. Both writers did an exceptional job today. however wins will be a good choice and I hope they go much further. Finally went with Elizabeth.
Hard to choose. Went with Andrew because my son’s name is Andrew, and he’s the patron Saint of Scotland. I won’t be upset if Elizabeth wins,.
My church is a combined combination of Saint Andrew and Saint Elizabeth. Coming together wasn't always an easy process. Now you make us vote between our name sakes!
The sometimes non-benevolent Supreme Executive Committee (they admit it!) often confront us with impossible choices, and today is one of them. How I would love to be able to vote for BOTH of today's saints. Elizabeth's role in raising her wonderfully challenging son John and in her welcome of her pregnant relative Mary (one can imagine her comforting, reassuring and encouraging her probably overwhelmed young cousin) deserves to be celebrated. Indeed, some Latin manuscripts of the Bible and a few other sources put the great poem of the Magnificat not in Mary's mouth, but Elizabeth's'
Nevertheless, after a great deal of agonizing, I decided to vote for Andrew: he was a great apostle of Jesus, beginning with his bringing his impulsive brother to join him in following Jesus. And he died a martyr for Christ, according to ancient tradition (even if we must discount the legend that he chose an X-shaped cross, since that notion can't be traced to earlier than the high Middle Ages). Further, there are a number of stories in the gospel that tell us more about Andrew, such as his helping to make possible the great feeding of the multitude in the wilderness with its hints of Eucharist and Passion to come. Andrew was a real Mensch, as his name implies!
As I ponder these two grace-filled and loyal followers of Christ, I'm struck by their similarities...both answered God's call to them without hesitation and both loved 'problem' family members. Andrew not only put up with a 'mouthy' little brother, he brings Peter along when given the chance to get away from him!! Elizabeth lovingly accepts a pregnant and un wed Mary into her home without judgment. Such grace!! I voted for Elizabeth. In a very splintered and hate filled world, we rejoice and celebrate when people from diverse faith traditions find similarities rather than devisions in their theologies and traditions. Elizabeth manages to unite religious folks as different as Muslims and Christians in their understanding of saintly behavior. You go, girl!!
Thanks for noting 2 things:
1) That Mary sang the Magnificat to Elizabeth. It drives me crazy every time I'm at a service of Holden Evening prayer; Marty Haugen has contributed mightily to biblical illiteracy by introducing the Magnificat with the words of the Annunciation. Grrr.
2) For noting that even the LCMS counts Liz among the saints! And after removing the Marian verse in the hymn "Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones" in the 1982 Lutheran Worship, Mary has been restored to "lead[ing] their praises" (that is, of cherubim & seraphim) in the 2006 Lutheran Service Book.
Mary who ran over the hills of Galilee with Good News was met by a cousin with good news if her own. I can't think of a more intimate expression of female solidarity than this lovely scene.
The black on purple is almost impossible to read ... please try to not use it often ... I have to use my Saintly Scorecard booklet to read about today's Saint's in order to vote.
A tough choice! I like to support the women but in my 60+ years of life I have worshipped at churches named after St Andrew for a total of 38 years. Andrew it is.
This is a hard one!
Shortly after graduating college, I heard a sermon about Andrew and evangelism, based in the phrasing "come and see," emphasizing that we are to invite, not to lecture, people to discover God's grace. I also really appreciate the biographer's emphasis on how hard it can sometimes be to be the younger sibling of a really impressive person.
On the other hand, Elizabeth's welcome serves as such a model for us. She didn't judge her young cousin, or pepper her with questions, or chide her. She welcomed her and listened to her.
It's a touch choice!
Going with Andrew, as we have two in the family, and helped start a St. Andrew’s church besides. It sounds there are plenty of Elizabeths coming up in Lent Madness 2020 to consider. Both of our Andrews are younger brothers with some of today’s Andrew’s traits. Go Andrew!
Oh no, just two days into the race and we have the first terrible matchup between two equally lovely saints, both of whom speak to me personally! I’m sorely tempted to nudge over to Andrew because a saw-toothed version of his cross, the Cross of Burgundy, is part of the flag of the German Renaissance reenactment troupe to which I belong. But as an older mom with two sons, I’ll come down on the Elizabeth side.
This is so hard: a difficult choice in the very first round. Replicates my voting choice upcoming on Tuesday. Andrew, the self-effacing, eager servant of God. Elizabeth, a Biblical expression of maternal solidarity. Freedom to Scotland! But Elizabeth it is.
This was a tough vote for me today. I've always been partial to both Elizabeth & Andrew. I voted for Andrew because of his humility and he has always been underrated. Also because my oldest grandson is named Andrew. That being said, I will cheer for Elizabeth if she wins.
This one was a very tough vote for me. On the one hand, my parish church is named for Andrew but on the other hand, my heart goes out to Lizzie. So, Lizzie it is!
I'm sure Liz was very nice and her acceptance of the baby deserves kind notice. Yet, Andy's day is clearly due. Everyone surely knows the poem I am writing now:
Andy, Andy, your day is due, Even brother Pete would vote for you; You are truly your father's son, who loves you more than a hole-in-one. Follow the code well-known as Morse; enjoy your victory that's right on course. Always recall that all the Scots, love you dearly, lots and lots!
Speaking as a teacher, I must observe that comparisons are odorous! Teachers ought not to do that to their students. Congratulations on being able to appreciate your brother's example in spite of the comparisons.
Love your poem, but I have to vote for myself over my husband, Andrew 🙂
Where's Oliver??
That's what I have been wondering, too!
Have been wondering that too!!! We did not see much of himself last year either.
So, I guess being an Apostle means nothing based on Days 1 & 2
Andrew dropped everything and followed Jesus.
Also my ordination to the diaconate was on his day (transferred, but who's counting?).
Also the Scots!!! My ancestors and friends.
Truly Elizabeth portrayed a great feminine soul.
Reading all of your comments has not helped me decide. Carol's depiction of Andrew was achingly beautiful and Elizabeth's story has always moved me. Eenie meenie miney moe?
The chance of an Elizabethan final four, plus her hospitality and true grit led me to cast my vote for dear Elizabeth.
Tough decision! As a younger sibling, I sympathize with Andrew, but Elizabeth's grace and hospitality edged past for me.
Admire and embrace Elizabeth - the name of my beloved grandmother but must vote for the first called, first to answer Andrew and in honor of brothers everywhere and always and to honor the patron saint of Scotland. Where else could Samuel Seabury have gone???
Some scholars believe that Andrew rather than John was the “beloved disciple”.
+Ann T.
Sorry, Andy. Next time, step it up a little, at least compared to Lizzy.