Voices Found: WLWC Epiphany VII C: Voices Found 21, 141, 2 They persisted!
Voices Found #21
God of the women who answered your call,
trusting your promise, giving their all,
women like Sarah and Hannah and Ruth
give us their courage to live in their truth.
God of the women who walked Jesus' way,
giving their resources, learning to pray,
Mary, Joanna, Susanna, and more
May we give freely as they did before.
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
Music: Slane
Gillette's hymn highlights Biblical women who walked with God from Genesis on. It was first published in The Presbyterian Outlook and the Episcopal women's magazine Communique. Gillette's hymns are included in hymnals of many denominations. She currently serves as co-pastor of Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware.
Now after [a woman anointed his feet] Jesus went on through cities and villages proclaiming and bringing good news of the reign of God. The twelve were with him. There were also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others , who provided for them out of their resources. Luke 8:1-3, tr. Gafney
In the parable of the sower, Luke 8:11-15, Jesus teaches about faithful disciples, " they are those who through a good and honest heart hear the word, hold fast, and bring forth fruit through persistence."
Theresa of Avila (1515-1582) echoes Messiah's teaching of faithful persistence, embodied by Mary, Joanna, and Magdalene.
Voices Found #146
Nothing distress you, nothing affright you
everything passes, God will abide.
Patient endeavor accomplishes all things;
who God possesses needs naught beside.
Theresa of Avila (1515-1582) tr. Colin P Thompson, verse 1
Music: Many Mansions, Peter Cutts (1937-2024)
They persisted! It could not have been easy. They had to find resources to share. How? Were they merchants, traders in silk or dyes, chemists, or physicians? Did Joanna access Herod's treasury? Did Mary sell essential oils and costly fragrance? We know little. We do know they followed to the cross and tomb. They persisted. They proclaimed resurrection. They rejoiced! And they persisted!
Meditation: Voices Found #2
Myrrh bearing Mary to death's garden came
seeking her Jesus who'd borne the world's blame;
heartsick she stood till she heard the Lord's voice:
"Mary!" he said "I am risen;
Rejoice!'
Words: Rae E. Whitney (1927-2023)
Music: Myrrh-bearing Mary, David Hurd
Prayer
O Holy One, teach me to follow you with the persistence of Sarah, Hannah and Ruth, and the courage of Mary, Joanna, Susanna and more. Grant us your grace so to live in your truth.
For background and performance suggestions please see The Leader's Guide to Voices Found
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