Elizabeth, Mother of John

Transcription

1 Elizabeth, Mother of John We are introduced to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, in Luke s Gospel. Elizabeth was said to be a descendant of Aaron, Israel s first priest. She, like so many of the great mothers of the Jewish faith (for example, Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah), was old and barren. Luke is clear that her sterility was not on account of impiety; she was described as righteous before God and said to live blamelessly according to all commandments and regulations of the Lord. Her husband Zechariah was serving as priest, offering incense in the temple, when he was informed that Elizabeth would bear a son in her old age. Zechariah expressed disbelief and was rendered mute until the day John the Baptist was presented in the temple. Elizabeth, on the other hand, modeled trust in God s promises and was rewarded with a pregnancy entirely free of snarky comments about the amount of pita and hummus she consumed. Elizabeth lived in seclusion for five months until she was visited by her relative, Mary. At Mary s greeting, the baby leapt in Elizabeth s womb, leading her to praise Mary proclaiming, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. In this moment she acted as prophet, a role her son would take up when he prepared the way of the Lord in the desert. After the boy was born and when he was presented at the temple, since Zechariah was mute, Elizabeth was obedient to God s command and named her son John. He would later be described by Jesus as more than a prophet and that among those born of women no one is greater than John. The Protoevangelium of James narrated how during Herod s murderous rage, Zechariah was killed for concealing Elizabeth and John. God led Elizabeth to a mountain and miraculously protected her and her young son so that John could grow and fulfill the mission 32

2 God had prepared for him. Elizabeth, now an elderly widow with a young child, faithfully raised John, who was later recognized not only as a great prophet and the forerunner to the savior but also as a holy figure to be emulated in his own right. David Creech Lord God, we remember before you today Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist. May we be so convicted of the presence of Jesus that, like her, we would proclaim as blessed those who bear him into the world. Grant that we would have the deep faith and abiding peace to rest in your promises for this life, no matter how incredible those promises seem to us, and to have the grace and will to proclaim those promises to the world, for the sake of Jesus. Amen. 33

3 Frederick Douglass Many people are familiar with Frederick Douglass work as an abolitionist in the nineteenth century. What is not as well-known is the depth of Douglass Christian faith. Douglass love of scripture and his fascination with the apocalyptic writing of Revelation was a guidepost in his quest for personal holiness and social transformation. Born to an enslaved woman and a white slave owner in 1818 on Maryland s Eastern Shore, Douglass was sent to work for a Baltimore shipbuilder following his mother s death when he was seven years old. Over the course of the next eight years, Douglass learned to read and write and developed a love of the Bible. His affinity for the Bible served as a catalyst for his conversion to the Christian faith when he was thirteen. In his well-known autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he recalled that after being sent back to Maryland s Eastern Shore, he continued to have abiding hope in God s promises and established a Sunday school for other enslaved men and women. While on the Eastern Shore, Douglass was subjected to numerous whippings and beatings from the plantation s overseer, which left permanent scars on his body. These violent beatings and Douglass prophetic reading of scripture led him to plan his escape to freedom. Although his first attempt was not a success, in 1838 Douglass finally fled to safety in New York, before settling in New Bedford, Massachusetts with his wife. Together, they had five children. In New Bedford, Douglass joined an abolitionist society and an A.M.E. Zion church, where he assumed leadership as the church s preacher. By 1841 Douglass was traveling across Canada and the northern United States rallying support against slavery. Douglass believed that individual holiness was essential to the reformation of society s morals and the work of abolitionists. To this end, Douglass 34

4 refused to drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, or engage in any other behavior he felt threatened the Christian s call to righteousness. After the Civil War ended, Douglass continued advocating for equality not only on behalf of African Americans, but Native Americans and women. For Douglass, God s justice would not be complete until all were treated with dignity. Douglass published more than ten books and speeches, including the conscienceraising, What to a Slave is the Fourth of July? He died at his Washington, D.C., home in 1895 and was buried in Rochester, New York. His Washington home is currently a national landmark, housing Douglass collection of Bibles, religious books, and angel depictions. Maria Kane Almighty God, whose truth makes us free: We bless your Name for the witness of Frederick Douglass, whose impassioned and reasonable speech moved the hearts of a president and a people to a deeper obedience to Christ. Strengthen us also to be outspoken on behalf of those in captivity and tribulation, continuing in the Word of Jesus Christ our Liberator; who with you and the Holy Spirit dwells in glory everlasting. Amen. 35

5 How to Use Lent Madness in Your Congregation There are as many ways to use Lent Madness as there are congregations. In other words, there is no right or wrong way to take part in Lent Madness. Here are a few ideas that made their way to Lent Madness Headquarters. Feel free to share your ideas with us online (or scribble them on the back of this book and mail it to us. Just make sure you buy a replacement). Everyone should: Join Lent Madness on its website, Study up on the saints ahead of time use the Saintly Scorecard! Like us on Facebook at Follow us on Watch Lent Madness videos at lentmadness and Buy Lent Madness gifts and tchotchkes at the Lentorium, or or forwardmovement. Invite others to take part in Lent Madness. The more the merrier! 72