Lady Lydia

Seeing how female figures symbolize nations

05/18/2020

Acts of the Apostles 16:11-15 We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time in that city. On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there. One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us.

Female figures often symbolize the soul of a nation. Can you think of the lady who symbolizes the soul and even the strength of America? Of course, she is “Lady Liberty.” Emma Lazarus famously put these words on the lips of Lady Liberty, and thus on the lips of every true American: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teaming shore, send these the homeless, tempest tossed, to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” Not only Americans, but many immigrants like my family from India, have read those lines and our souls have been stirred. Did your soul stir when you just read those lines? Lady Liberty symbolizes the highest ideals of the American spirit; she is each American at our very best.

In the Acts of the Apostles we meet a widow woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia. Like Lady Liberty, she offers hospitality and welcome to Paul, Silas, Timothy on their second missionary journey through Asia Minor. Lydia is traditionally believed to be the first Christian convert in Europe, a noble distinction to match her noble character. She seems to be a good symbol of the people and place of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, like Lady Liberty, who stands for America.

Lydia, however, had competition for that singular status. In Revelation 2:20 we hear of another woman from “Thyatira,” namely, Jezebel. You might remember the infamous Jezebel from the first book of Kings. One of the seven letters in Revelation is addressed to Thyatira: “You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of foods sacrificed to idols.” Notice that Thyatira’s wrong-doing – symbolized by Jezebel – is not only idolatry and sexual misconduct, but also misleading Jesus’ followers, that is deceiving Christians. Thus, two women vie to be symbols of the soul of Thyatira in Turkey: Lydia, who welcomes Christianity and personally converts to it, and Jezebel, who misleads Christians and leads them away from Christ.

I don’t think Lady Liberty is the only woman who symbolizes America, like Lydia was not the only symbol of Thyatira. Sometimes Jezebel also seems to represent our nation, not our highest and selfless ideals but our lowest and selfish inclinations. This is especially true in our treatment of immigrants and religious freedom. I am not suggesting that Christianity needs to be the cornerstone of our Constitution; separation of church and state is basically a good thing. But I do believe Lady Liberty’s lamp shines brightest when we welcome immigrants and welcome Christianity, like Lydia of Thyatira did. Of course, what do you expect a Catholic priest from India to say? Then again, that’s what Emma Lazarus would say, and that’s also what the Acts of the Apostles and the book of Revelation say.

Women often symbolize the soul of a nation. Many years hence, when people look back and can more easily see the soul of America, what woman would have been her most appropriate symbol: Lady Liberty or Jezebel?

Praised be Jesus Christ!