Ambrose was a Lutheran

I will glory not because I am righteous but because I am redeemed; I will glory not because I am free from sins but because my sins are forgiven me. I will not glory because I have done good nor because someone has done good to me but because Christ is my advocate with the Father and because the blood of Christ has been shed for me.

 (De Jacob et vita beata, ch. 6, as quoted in Examination of the Council of Trent, Part I, p. 507)

A Disturbing Contrast

St. Nicholas and the Schoolboys" by Gerard David (c. 1460 - 1523)

Once I figured out what pinterest was all about I became a very enthusiastic pinner.  I pin everything from food to fashion to saints to bible stories to cute kitties. 

 So of course I have a St. Nicolas' board. And while looking for artwork illustrating the various legends and tales about the saint I came across this painting by Gerard David.  I found it very disturbing.

Well the story it illustrates is pretty disturbing.  A wicked butcher who had no meat to sell lures three school boys into his shop, murders them, chops them up and pickles them.  Fortunately Nicolas is on the case and brings them back to life.  Your typical fairytale horror tale that is supposed to help children deal with the dark side of life.

But what I saw in this painting was not a kindly man protecting children.  I saw three naked boys with a bishop.  I think you can guess what images THAT brought up.  The boys are naked in all the art connected with this story but there is something about the innocence David captures in this, and the way the bishop towers over them.  Creepy creepy creepy.

To me this painting brings out the stark contrast of what the church is supposed to do, protect children.  And what it often has not done.  Kind of a sour note for a fun day but there it is. 

 

And You Thought YOUR Confirmation Classes were Tough...

I've taken it upon myself to upload an image and short story of a commemoration from the Lutheran and any other Christian Calendar that interests me every day on Facebook.  It's really been fascinating.  If I can't find something uplifting and inspiring, I can find something downright interesting Like St. Dunstan who was known for being very good at outsmarting the Devil.  He was a blacksmith and the Devil asked him to shoe his horse.  Instead he shoed the Devil!  This, as you can imagine, was very painful and the Devil begged him to unshoe him.  Dunstan agreed, but only if the Devil agreed to never enter a building with a horseshoe over the door.  The devil agreed, and this is where we get the idea of a lucky horseshoe. 

St. Boniface, Apostle to the Germans, whom we commemorate today was killed while preparing some Frisians (a Germanic people from the modern day Netherlands to Denmark) for confirmation on Pentecost eve by a gang of pagan Frisians.  . Although his comrades were armed Boniface urged them to lay down their arms, saying "Cease fighting. Lay down your arms, for we are told in Scripture not to render evil for good but to overcome evil by good." All were massacred.

The story is told that his killers were looking for gold and silver but instead found pages of scripture in his bags.  There is also a story of Boniface attempting to save himself by holding a bible over his head.  

Along with the remains of Boniface, the Fulda Cathedral holds a slashed bible, known as the Ragyndrudis Codex, which is said to be the Bible which was held by Boniface when he died.  Father Anonymous will, no doubt, attempt to dispute the authenticity of this story but the association of this book with Boniface's martyrdom is goes back pretty far. 

To me it doesn't matter whether or not it REALLY is the very book, anymore than if the chains in the Church of the Chains of Peter and Paul are really the actual chains.  Peter and Paul were held in chains and seeing them makes it real.  Looking at that slashed manuscript makes it real to me that there was a man who was slashed to death while trying to each people about Christ.  To me, relics are not magic  nor history, they are icons we need the same way we need water and bread for the sacraments.  We are earthly people and earthly things help our faith.

Which is why I use power point and pictures in Confirmation, to bring this back to my heading.

On a Happier Note, If There Wasn't a St. Valentine, there Should Have Been One

The truth is, we know nothing for sure about anybody named Valentine other than he was martyred like many other early Christians on February 14 and is buried outside of Rome. Maybe there wasn't even one Valentine. Valentine was actually a pretty common name and there were a lot of Christians martyred in Rome. 

Around this time there was another one of those Roman Pagan celebrations of romance.  We do love our pagan celebrations.  It's way too complicated to get to the bottom of it.

But around the middle ages you get this wonderful story about a St. Valentine, that like most beautiful stories, is a true story, regardless of whether or not it really happened.

The Roman Emporium Claudius was smart enough to know that bachelors make better soldiers than family men so Roman soldiers were forbidden to marry.  But Christian soldiers, ever the proponents of "Family Values" wanted to get married.  Valentine was the priest to oblige them.  His acts of civil disobedience ended him up in jail.

His  jailor had a lovely blind daughter who came to visit him.  He shared the gospel with her and she became a Christian.  Some stories even claim he restored her sight.  I prefer to think of her as blind, loving Valentine only through his stories of Christ. Theirs was a loving friendship, based on Christ.  There's a romance for you.  When he was taken away to be executed, he left her a note encouraging her to be strong in Christ.  He signed it "Your Valentine"

If it didn't happen, it should have happened.  And I'd be all for recovering a St. Valentine's Day about civil disobedience, not letting the State tell you who or whether or not you can marry, and friendship.  And chocolate, because chocolate is good.  As long as it's Fair Trade.  Happy Valentines Day. 

Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr; 1170

 

When Thomas Becket was a young man he was an unlikely candidate for Martyrdom.  

Chancellor of England and good friend of King Henry the II, he lived the good life (for medieval times anyway) He enjoyed the wealth and power that came with his high position.

Then Henry II decided to make him archbishop.  At this time there was a power struggle going on between the King and the church and Henry no doubt thought putting his good buddy in such a position would strengthen his position.  He thought Becket would take his side.

The King was in for a surprise.  

Perhaps Thomas Becket surprised himself.  He rose to the occasion.   As he described it he changed from being “a patron of play actors and a follower of hounds to a shepherd of souls”.  He led a much more austere life, looked after the interests of the church and did not take Henry’s side in his quarrels with the church.
 

Becket became such a throne in Henry’s side that in a rage he is said to have demanded “Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?”  There is always someone to indulge the king and on December 29, 1170, four knights murdered the archbishop in front of the altar in his cathedral.

The people were shocked by this brazen murder of their Archbishop. Beckett was soon declared a saint and King Henry subjected himself to a public whipping by monks of the abbey as penance.

You just never know what you are capable of until you are called.  

And if God puts you in a position, God must figure you can handle it. 

Almighty God, you granted your martyr Thomas the grace to give his life for the cause of justice: Keep your household from all evil and raise up among us faithful pastors and leaders who are wise in the ways of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ the shepherd of our souls, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.
 

Princess Olga of kiev - Another Fascinating Woman from history

The Orthodox celebrate her feast day on July 11, but she shows up today with her grandson Vladimir (who was killed on this day) in the LBW

It was her grandson Vladimir who is responsible for converting Russia to Orthodox Christianity but it was certainly Olga who planted the seeds.

Olga was born in 890 to a Viking family .  She married Prince Igor  who was the son of Rurik known as the founder of Russia and they ruled Kiev which is made up of the modern day nations of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Poland.

In 945 , when Igor was murdered by a slavic tribe who got tired of paying tribute, she became regent for her son.  They sent messengers suggesting that Olga marry their prince.  She declined and killed the messengers.  She had 20 matchmakers who had been sent buried alive.  She asked for better ambassadors and when they showed up she scalded them to death in a bathhouse.    She went to the land of the people responsible for killing her husband for a feast in memory of her husband, got them all drunk and had them killed, and burned down their town.  Do not mess with Olga!  She was an effective, if ruthless ruler.

Sometime after her son came of age and took over as ruler she became interested in Christianity and visited Constantinople.    It is said the emperor Constantine was quite taken with her and proposed marriage.  She was baptized and asked Constantine to be her godfather and afterwords said she couldn't possibly marry him because she was like a daughter to him.

There is nothing about what led her to embrace Christianity.  Perhaps all the vengeance and violence brought her no peace and satisfaction for her husband's murder.  Perhaps the innocent lives she took lay on her conscience and in the end it was only the promise of grace and forgiveness that could bring her peace.  Or perhaps it was as is told that when she saw the splendor of the  Hagia Sophia Basilica she figured they must have the best god.

Olga never was able to persuade her son to convert to Christianity but he was not against the new religion and did not hinder anyone else from converting.  And you have to believe she was a significant influence on her grandson Vladimir who did become a Christian and was responsible for bringing Orthodox Christianity to Russian.  In 1547 the Orthodox Church declared her to be a saint equal to the Apostles.

St. Barnabas - the Second Chance Guy

I like Barnabas.  He's the Second Chance Guy.

So Saul the Persecutor of Christians shows up in Jerusalem claiming to be a changed man.  "Yea right.  My brother still has bruises from the beatings he received after you sic'd those bullies on him"  Yes Christians believe in forgiveness and all that but nobody really wanted to get too close to Paul.  Resurrection is one thing.  Someone completely converting to the very movement he's been persecuting?  Seems a little suspicious.


It was Barnabas who befriended Paul and took him around to all the disciples and made them act their faith and accept him.


And then later on it was Barnabas who stood up to Paul in defense of his nephew Mark.  Mark for some reason had left Paul and Barnabas in the middle of a missionary journey and Paul was understandably reluctant to take Mark on another trip.   But Barnabas insisted to the point that he took Mark on his own trip and let Paul and Silas go a different way.  


Mark proved worthy of Barnabas' trust and later on even Paul had good things to say about him.  


I know you have to be careful here when it comes to trusting people and giving them more chances to stab you in the back.  Sometimes people really do use up their chances.  But most of us could probably stand to give out a few more chances.  Thank God we haven't used up our chances with God.

I Could Think of Better Saints

Okay, I like hokey movies.  A few months ago I watched this EWTN movie about a little girl who I think they made a saint just because they felt so bad about how horribly she was treated.  

St. Maria was stalked and then stabbed to death by the son of the family her family shared a home with in 1902. 

I guess she's a saint because she fought to the death rather than let him rape her.  Because you know, any women who "lets" someone rape her isn't really so pure.  So she gets to be the patron saint of chastity. 

 She forgave the boy who killed her and he ended up in a monastery after he served 20 years in prison.  Twenty years for stabbing an 111-year-old to death.

Then tonight they show a movie about St. Rita.  They made it seem very romantic about how she tries to help her husband leave the violence of his family in the 14th century.  She's horrified to discover her husband is an assassin but she learns to forgive and teach him about love by her submissiveness.  

But the real story is that she was married against her will at age 12 and he was abusive to her for 18 years until he was stabbed to death by his enemies at which point he finally found religion and asked her forgiveness.  

Then her children died and she finally got to go to the convent which is what she wanted back when was a child bride.  She also wanted to suffer like Jesus so a thorn from a large crucifix fell on her head causing a terrible wound that gave her pain the rest of her miserable life. She is the patron saint of impossible causes.

Really ETWN?  These are the women saints you offer up to your viewers?  Victims of abuse who forgave their abusers?   I'm all for forgiveness.  But there are a lot of women saints out there.  Forgive me if I'm a little dubious about your choices.

Cathererine of Sienna, April 29

I think she had a severe eating disorder myself.  But nobody's perfect.  She lived during a difficult time of plagues, wars, civil wars, even waring popes.  She defied her parents who wanted to her to do what nice preteens of her time did - marry well for the family and instead went to live with a bunch of other defiant independent women who took care of people no one else would.  She told the pope to grow up and come back to Rome and do his job.   She even defied her own confessor who tried to get her to eat for her own sake and that's probably what paralysed and killed her at age 33.

She also told a lot of people that God loved them.  An important message that could have gotten lost in the midst of everything else. 

"Strange that so much suffering is caused because of the misunderstandings of God's true nature. God's heart is more gentle than the Virgin's first kiss upon the Christ. And God's forgiveness to all, to any thought or act, is more certain than our own being."

Mary of Egypt

The Eastern Orthodox church commemorates Mary of Egypt on the Fifth Sunday of Lent.

Mary's story has always fascinated me.  She was a teen-aged runaway.  She ran away from her home in Alexandria at the age of 12 in the 7th century.   Now the story is that she simply ran away because she was wanton and wanted to live a life of promiscuous sex.  Yea right.  That's what every happy and loved 12 year old girl wants.  Her words are that she was driven "by an insatiable desire and an irrepressible passion"  I just don't believe it.  A runaway little girl who turns to promiscuous sex to survive and find love sounds to me like she was abused at home.  I think she should be the patron saint of runaway teens. 

So she meets up with a group of pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem and joins them with the goal of seeing how many pilgrims she can seduce.   Yea I'll show God.   Then she tries to enter the church of the Holy Sepulchre and is mysteriously blocked from entering.   She believes this is due to her impurity (does this story not SCREAM sexually abused child to you?) and seeks forgiveness from an Icon of the Theotokos outside the church.  After this she is allowed to enter the church.  She receives absolution and Holy Communion and retreats into the desert where supposedly she lived the rest of her life on three loaves of bread.  But the story gets even more interesting.

There's this monk Zosimas who entered the monastery as a young man.  He's led a very religious life but still feels like he is missing something so he goes into the desert and encounters Mary.  She recognizes him to be a holy man and calls him by name, begging his forgiveness.  She asks him to bring her communion and tells him her life story.   While she feels unworthy to be in the presence of one whom she perceives to be a holy man, he is overwhelmed by how she has turned her life around and perceives her to be the holy woman because of how her life testifies to the grace of God.  There's a scene I find almost comedic where she begs him to bless her but he says "No you should bless me!"  They are arguing over who is holier.  


I believe there is another story in Mary, not the wanton sinner but  the broken child who finally found wholeness and healing in the desert with her God and the holy man who recognized what she could not - that her life testified to an amazing love and grace of God that he in his more sheltered existence had missed until he encountered her.

In thee, O Mother, was exactly preserved what was according to the divine image. for thou didst take the cross and follow Christ, and by thy life, didst teach us to ignore the flesh, since it is transitory, but to care for the soul as an immortal thing. Therefore, thy spirit, St. Mary, rejoices with the Angels.

Hilary of Poitiers 367

Some people think that biblical scholarship can be a challenge to your faith.  I find delving into church history much more challenging.   Particularly the whole Trinitarian/Arian controversy.  Really one could argue that it was the side with the monks who beat up the most monks or paid of the emperor was that was responsible for our current trinitarian doctrine.

Eventually I came to the conclusion the right side won.  Or the side closest to the truth won.  But I REALLY think Arius gets a bad rap.  He did not deny the divinity of Christ.  He was just trying to conserve monotheism and the  integrity of God the Father.  I like to make conservative "traditionalist" go crazy by reminding them Arius was the conservative in the controversy.  They don't like that but it's true.

All this to say Hilary was on the "right" side. Got himself exiled for a few years when his side was out of favor.  That's what's also so disturbing about this controversy.  You had years where one side was in favor and then the other side.  Some like Hilary stuck to their guns but others switched sides according to what was in favor.  Did they switch sides to save their jobs?  Or were they just folks who trusted others to tell them what to think?  Or were they like me at some synod assemblies.  I listen to one side of the argument and say "well that makes sense, I think you have a point" only to hear the OTHER side and change my mind again?   There were good arguments on both side of the Trinitarian argument.  And dubious arguments on both sides as well.

But I think Hilary was a beautiful writer and share this prayer with you that is quoted in Pfatteirchrs' "New Book of Festivals and Commemorations"

Almighty God and father, I regard it as the chief duty of my life to make every thought and word speak of you.  The gift o speech which you gave me cannot have a more noble use than to serve you….That is what I desire to do.  But I need to pray for your help and mercy so that when I spread the sails of our faith you will fill them with the breath of your Spirit to drive us onward.   I need not be afraid.

In our need we will ask for what we lack.  We will study the writings of your prophets and apostles with unflagging attention and knock on the doors where meaning is keep.  But it is for you, Lord, to give when asked, to be present when we seek you and to open when we knock.

Elvis Presley does Santa Lucia

And just because I'm skating to Elvis Presley's "Snowy Christmas Night" in a solo and "Blue Blue Christmas" in our adult group number in tonight's Holiday Gala (little quote from me in this article:
Ames Figure Skating Club's Holiday Gala

Santa Lucia December 13

Santa Lucia is celebrated all over Sweden and in Norway on December 13th. 
 

Lucia (also known as St. Lucy) is actually a 4th century Italian Saint. She was born to a wealthy Sicilian family. When she rejected a Pagan suitor, he turned her into Roman authorities who sent her to be a prostitute in a Brothel. According to Legend, she was saved by divine intervention and could not be moved. Next she was sentenced to be burned, but the flames could not consume her. Finally her neck was pierced by sword and she died on December 13, 304 AD. There are also stories of her eyes being put out and in some artistic portrayals she is carrying her eyes in a dish.

References to her are found in early Roman sacramentaries and at Syracuse in an inscription dating from AD 400. As evidence of her early fame, 2 churches are known to have been dedicated to her in Britain before the 8th century, at a time when the land was largely pagan.

How Lucia came to be known in Sweden

Lucia means "light" and Santa Lucia became associated with Light. During the Roman persecutions, Lucia is said to have carried food to the poor in dark tunnels, wearing a wreath of candles on her head. Lucia became a symbol of light to people in northern countries where winter brought short dark days. During the Middle Ages, there was a terrible famine in the province of Varmland. Just when it looked like the town would starve to death, a ship appeared with food, and a vision of Santa Lucia in white with a wreath of light around her head. Lucia has been loved in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries since then.

Traditions

On December 13, the eldest daughter awakens early and prepares a special breakfast. She dons a white dress with a red sash, a wreath of candles and leading the other children in the family, brings the food while singing a song to the other adults in the family.

When I went to California Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks, we had a Christmas Tradition, we would elect a woman who best showed the Christian ideals of Santa Lucia, and during a ceremony that included a Christmas Carol contest of dorms, she would lead a procession in a white dress and candles. I don't know if they still do that or not.

Why I added this under the tag "Feminism"

I'm always fascinated by these stories of early women maryters and how their "purity" was protected. We like to to smirk and roll our eyes at some of the early church's emphasis on virginity and certainly it's tainted by sexism and a double standard, but underneath it celibacy offered a freedom unknown to women at the time. I think there is more going on than meets the eye. In first century Roman empire, a woman, be she a slave or from a noble family really had no choice as to who had access to her body. I think these stories of women refusing suitors, choosing celibacy, and being miraculously saved from rape all speak to the freedom and power over their own bodies the Gospel offered to women. She did not have to give her body to the highest bidder, be it a husband chosen for her or her master. The teaching of a bodily resurrection gives respect to one's body. In the Resurrection a woman's body had value and meaning outside of giving sexual pleasure and bearing sons for men. I think these stories and legends gave women power over their bodies. And it's kind of too bad we've ignored such a powerful story and put lighted candles on little girl's heads.

St. Nicolas, December 6

Behind all the mystery of Santa Clause, there is a real person.

Nicholas was bishop of Turkey during the 4th century who was known for his generosity and concern for the poor. 

"St. Nicholas Giving Gold to the Three Poor Girls", detail of a painting by Fra Angelico

One of the stories told about him concerns a man who lost all his money. Because he could not provide a dowry for his daughters, they would be unable to marry and would be forced to turn to prostitution to survive. 

Late at night, while the poor man and his daughters slept, Nicholas tossed a small sack of gold through the window. Surprised by the mysterious gift, the eldest daughter now had a dowry and was able to marry her beloved. Again Nicholas brought another sack of gold and the second daughter was able to marry. 

When he came with a gift for the youngest daughter, Nicholas was seen for by her father, who told all of his humble generosity.

Nicholas was imprisoned and exiled under the Roman Emperor Diocletian who was known for his ruthless persecution of Christians. 

Nicolas also participated in the Council of Nicea which formulated the Nicene Creed. 

In fact, there is a story told of him being so agitated by Arius's arguments that he went up to him and SLAPPED him. He should be in Sorority Life.

He was so beloved and well known for his concern for the poor that after his death, people would impersonate him and give out gifts to the poor.


He showed up in Holland as  on a white horsd as Sinterklaas visiting children on the eve of their feast day. The Dutch brought him to America and combined him with the English Father Christmas, were he exchanged his bishops’ vestments for secular clothing. 

The Santa we are most familiar with was influenced by the Nordic God Thor or Odin, the god of peasants and common people. 

Thor was an old and friendly stout man with a long white beard and wore red. The Nordic influence gave Santa is home and factory in the North Pole, along with his sled and reindeer. 

Somewhere, hidden in all the legends and pagan myths, there is a real person. 

A kindly, humble, Christian soul with whom the poor and children identified, who exemplified Jesus words that the Kingdom of God was “for the least of these” 

Christians need not ban Santa from our celebration of Christ’s birth among us. 

But let’s emphasize who he really is. 

He is not the Great Judge who determines who is “naughty or nice” He is not the Great Provider who gives us whatever we want. 

He is an example to us of remember the poor and needy—a reminder that Christmas is a time of giving. During this holiday season, instead of letting Santa do our giving for us, let him be an example for us so that we can be Santa for the children and poor of the world

Here is a great Link about the Real Saint Nick.

Hilda, Abbess of Whitby , 614

Hilda was born in 614 and raised in the court of King Edwin of Northumbria. She entered the convent and established many monasteries and centers of learning, advocating for greater reading of scripture and better education for clergy.

This is another one of those fascinating stories of a woman in medival times, who was educated, and had great influence among important men.

What I also find very interesting and timely was her response to the decision at the Synod Of Whitby to follow the Roman traditions of the church, rather than the celtic traditions. If you know anything about history of the Irish church, you know that it was very different than the Roman church. Hilda preferred the Celtic way (I think the Synod made the wrong choice myself) but unlike some chose to leave and establish separate monasteries in Iona and later, Ireland, Hilda chose unity over her own preferences and used her influence to encourage others to stay in the church and go along with the decision made by the Church Council.

Hmmm. That's all I'm going to say about that.

Cosmos & Damian - September 26

September 26 is the commemoration of St. Cosmos and Damian, third century Syrian martyrs believed to have been twins and doctors.

These are two rather obscure saints but I've always been interested in the basilica dedicated to them since I visited it on my 2004 Trip to Italy.

I splurged for a private tour and our guide was art historian Elizabeth Lev, who is kind of famous now. It was some of my best spent money on this vacation. She was excellent.

I think you could easily miss this gem of a church - it isn't very exciting on the outside, but the inside mosaic and the historical significance of the church should it put it on your "to see list" when (not if) you go to Rome.

Although Constantine legalized Christianity in the fourth century, Christians were not emboldened to build a church in the middle of the pagan dominated forum until two hundred years later in 526 AD.

Interesting that it was dedicated to twin saints and Romans have a thing for twins (think founders Romulus and Remus) And the basilica was built right across from a temple dedicated to twin gods Castor and Pollux.

You go inside this unremarkable building and are presented with a gorgeous 6th century mosaic. It is all the more impressive because the church has been raised higher than its original floor and you are much closer to the mosaic than normal and can really enjoy it.


The mosaic is of St. Peter and St. Paul presenting each of the twins to Christ in heaven. They are both wearing togas. At one time Rome was a symbol of oppression and persecution of the faithful. Now saints wear Roman togas in heaven. It is Liz who pointed out that the faces of Cosmos and Damien are dark and Semitic, preparing the Romans for a religion that is from that part of the world.

Anyway you really should check it out on your next trip to Italy. And if you go to the Vatican, get Liz to give you a tour if she's still doing that. Wish I had.

Hildegard, Abbess of Bingen, died 1179 - Another Radical Feminist

My daughter wrote a paper last year in that women in the middle ages were better off than women after the renaissance and I think she made a good case. 

 Of course, she didn't come up with that idea herself. Just look at some of the women and their influence in the middle ages. Queen Eleanor. Joan of Arc. Julian of Norwich. 

And the lady we commemorate today, Hildegard of Bingen.

It's a little shocking for our modern sensibilities to learn that Hildegard was sent away from her family to a convent when she was only eight. Hildegard was one of ten children --when she was sent to the convent she was taken under the wing by an abbess named Jutta. She probably got much more attention and nurturing and certainly, education than had she stayed at home.

Ever since the story of Katie Luther's escape from the convent in the pickle wagon Lutherans tend to think of convents as terrible places. 

 But I think convents were avenues of freedom for medieval women. 

Convents gave women like Hildegard opportunities to be leaders and even preachers. Hildegard traveled all over Germany and as far as Paris and people came far and wide to hear her and even asked for written copies of her sermons. She advised bishops, popes, and kings.

Her writings combined science, mathematics, music, art, social justice, respect for creation and theology. And all this was based on visions that some believe were simply the result of debilitating migraine headaches! It makes you wonder what beauty we are missing because we no longer search for meaning in suffering.

Joseph of Arimathea

According to James Kiefer's Hagiographies, this is Joseph of Arimathea's Day.

He's not on the Lutheran calendar. Probably because what we know of him from scripture is pretty sparse. According to all four gospels, (M 27:57-61; P 15:42-47; L 23:50-56; J 19:38-42) after the death of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy member of the Council, asked Pilate for the body of Jesus, and buried it with honor in the tomb he had intended for himself. That's all we know from scripture but there's lots of good stuff in legends.

Joseph is all wrapped up in medieval legends of the Holy Grail because he is said to have brought it to Britain. He is credited with evangelizing Britain and indeed Christianity came to Britain very early - so who knows?

I love ancient legends and saints stories. I think it's a shame we have this weird modern notion that if something didn't actually happen in history, the story is of no value. That's the kind of thinking that leads to fundamentalists insisting that if Jonah wasn't really swallowed by a fish then Jesus didn't rise from the dead and God is a Big Fat Liar.

When I went to Israel on one of those cheap Pastor tours, we visited competing spots that claim to be the tomb of Jesus --the church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the oldest, discovered by Constantine's mother herself, Helena, who embarked on a very successful tour to discover ancient landmarks in Christ's life. I believe she found every thing she was looking for, so fortunate was she.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is very dark, full of candles and incense and icons and statues. It's very "Catholic" (although it is shared by several different ancient church bodies)


But it is small wonder that some Protestant sensibilities were offended by this old mysterious and dark church and preferred the quiet simplicity of the Garden Tomb which resembles a respectable English Garden.

They are both lovely places in their own way. But it really is the Holy Sepulcher that gives me goose bumps.

Mary Magdalene

I was too busy last week to blog about one of my favorite Bible characters on her feast day- July 22.

I remember visiting an elderly lady many years ago who said she didn't have any problem with women pastors "Because look at Mary Magdalene....Jesus sent her to preach to his own disciples!"

Mary Magdalene was the first witness to the Resurrection and yet throughout the years the church has tried to downplay her role by sexualizing her and calling her a former prostitute. Which she was not. Although, as Seinfeld would say, "not that there's anything wrong with it..." but in fact, no where in scripture is she identified as a prostitute. (Even the woman who was called a "known sinner" who washed Jesus feet wasn't necessarily a prostitute. There ARE other ways women can be sinners, you know)

I think modern "liberal" views of Mary as Jesus' lover or suffering from unrequited romantic love for him also diminish her by sexualizing her as well. Why can people not just accept that Mary followed Jesus for the same reason the men did? Because she was excited by his teachings and the promise of the Kingdom of God? Why do we have to assign girlie romantic notions to her? I find that insulting to her and women in general.

So please - no more stories of romantic liasons between Jesus and Mary.

St. Matthias Prayer

Last Thursday the 14th was the commemoration of St. Matthias. But the first lesson for this Sunday, the 7th Sunday of Easter is Acts 1:15–17, 21–26, describes how Matthias being chosen to take Judas place by drawing lots. And I got this wonderful prayer from my friend Erik that I wanted to share.

Matthias, patron saint of

tailors, carpenters alcoholism, and Gary Indiana--
well, here's the day he gets chosen
to replace Judas the betrayer
and then there's no more
about Matthias, except mystery.

Meanwhile we eavesdrop on your prayer, Lord,
asking protection for your loved ones,
sending them out into the world;
they must have been confused at all this.

Not all of us are the big names
upon which you build your church;
some of us wonder if we're more Judas than not
and others feel like Matthias, fading into
the background. Even so,
Sew us together into one great piece;
One holy, whole home
for sinners and saints alike.

© 2009 Erik Doughty. Permission to reproduce this work is granted only when
the author is credited.