Women's History Month - Two
LIBERATION LECTIONARY ~ LENT
The Story of Persistence
“I belong to the women” - Frederick Douglass
Joana Choumali
Sunday 2nd Timothy 1:9 The Lord has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to God's own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Monday Luke 18. 1-8 Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.”’ And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’
Tuesday Luke 18.9-14 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
Wednesday Luke 18.15-17 People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. 16 But Jesus called for them and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’
Thursday Luke 18. 18-25 A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honour your father and mother.”’ He replied, ‘I have kept all these since my youth.’ When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’
Friday Luke 18.26-34 Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ He replied, “What seems impossible to you, is easy to God.” Then Peter said, ‘Look, we have left our homes and followed you.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.’ Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.’ But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
Saturday Luke 18.35-43 As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ Then he shouted, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He said, ‘Lord, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.
Reflection : Lent in Women’s History Month
This week we remember the women whose power, faith and fortitude made fuel for the fires of change. Specifically, we honor the women whose work is less widely known than the men ancestors they were married to. The wives of Booker T Washington and Frederick Douglass matter for our meditations this month. They deserve to be remembered and celebrated, their lives thought upon and taught. This is a month of waiting, fasting and praying - in our faith tradition and others. Just as our sisters and mothers have waited in hope and trusted in God’s sufficiency, we can honor their active, restless patience for a promise of liberation that they knew was on the way. Margaret Murray Washinton and Anna Murray Douglass (no relation) are the focus of this Women’s History Month Remembrance. Just like the persistent woman who is the focus of our scripture readings this week, they refused to give up. They refused to sit and watch injustice threaten and destroy our people.
Margaret Murray Washington, born March 9, 1865
Anti-lynching activist, Black women power supporter, spouse to Booker T. Washington.
Margaret Murray Washington was an American educator who was the principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, which later became Tuskegee University. She also led women’s clubs. She was the third wife of Booker T. Washington. She was inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame in 1972.
Anna Murray Douglass, born March 8, 1813
Abolitionist, member of Underground Railroad, spouse to Frederick Douglass.
“The story of Frederick Douglass’ hopes and aspirations and longing desire for freedom has been told—you all know it. It was a story made possible by the unswerving loyalty of Anna Murray.” Rosetta Douglass Sprague, daughter of Anna and Frederick Douglass, in a speech delivered in 1900 that later became the book My Mother As I Recall Her.
Joana Choumali
Meditation : Good Morning, Love - by Common
A few pieces from this track by Lonnie Rashid Lynn, better known as Common, who was born Mar 13, 1972, are very much like a prayer of petition. It’s fitting for this time of waiting and witness. As we approach Common’s 51st birthday, let’s join with his urgent and sincere prayers for assurance, presence, healing and unity.
When we wash all our pain away - We say, oh, my Lord. When we can't make it through the day - We pray, oh, my Lord. It's a test coming to my faith - We pray, oh, my Lord. Will my people ever be safe? In the land that takes us and breaks us, I can't be sure.
And whenever I fall, on faith, I land. Imperfections, resurrections - In the mirror staring at God's reflection. Reflecting on my aggressions - On my regressions, on my obsessions, There's a lesson in not feeling less - And in seeing life itself as a blessing.
When we wash all our pain away - We say, oh, my Lord. When we can't make it through the day - We pray, oh, my Lord. It's a test coming to my faith - We pray, oh, my Lord. Will my people ever be safe? In the land that takes us and breaks us, I can't be sure.
The jubilee of a newer me. Giving my enemies something new to see. My community, they be fueling me - In the struggle of us, there's a unity. The moral universe stay schooling me. Will the king of kings really rule in me? I'm an instrument, stay in tune with me.
Sources:
Artwork: Joana Choumali
Learn more about the pieces we highlighted in the blog today.