Tabitha, the Disciple

 

In the 15th-century painting Healing of the Cripple and Raising of Tabith, Masolino da Panicale depicts the most famous scene of Tabitha in the Bible: the miraculous prayer of Peter that brings Tabitha back from the dead.

Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs.  

 Acts 9:36-37 New Revised Standard Version

When I was a kid my father, the minister, would announce an upcoming meeting of the Dorcas Unit of the United Church Women in our congregation. My brother and I would snigger in the pew at the name -- Dorcas (Greek) sounded a lot like dork, and who wants to be a dork? 

I think the name Tabitha (Aramaic), the other version of her name, sounds much better. Tabitha/Dorcas shows up in the ecumenical lectionary this morning, a story in the Acts of the Apostles in which she is miraculously resucitated by the apostle Peter. She's described as a disciple, the only occasion in the New Testament where a woman is directly described as one. and we're told that she was devoted to others. 

Through the years I've been aware of the women in congregational life who have been unsung disciples. Shortly before I left my final pastorate I commented to one of them who was involved in so many "good works and acts of charity" that she did so much and drew so little attention to herself. She seemed surprised by my praise and did an "aw shucks" deflection, but I hope she heard me. 

Do you notice that in the painting above it is a bunch of white haired men who are witnesses to this miracle, even though women were present? 

And do you wonder if Tabitha returned to life and expressed some dismay to Peter? Just when she was getting some rest...

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 

Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive.  This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

 Acts 9:38-42 New Revised Standard Version