When we consider the couples of the Bible, some – like Mary and Joseph – provide shining examples of faithfulness. But the Scriptures also reveal just how many challenges married couples face as they grapple with sin and hardship. Throughout the lives of the men and women of the Bible, one theme stands above all: God calls us to trust in His plans no matter the circumstance.
In today’s post, we invite you to discover the stories of four couples of the Bible and where you can find them in the art of the Basilica.
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve’s story is tainted by the first great tragedy of humanity: their choice to disobey God and bring sin into the world. But the Creation story also presents a positive vision of God’s intention for the roles of men and women in relationship to each other. After God had established Adam in the garden, He said that it was not good for him to be alone, so He created Eve to be his companion. They lived and worked together in the garden, walking in God’s presence, until they disobeyed Him by eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve suffered greatly for their disobedience, having to leave the beauty of the garden and the glory of God’s presence. Yet, despite their punishment, God still blessed them. They bore children and lived to an old age, watching their offspring “be fruitful and multiply.”
At the Basilica, Adam and Eve can be found in the Creation Mosaic in the East Transept of the Great Upper Church, in a soffit mosaic in the West Apse of the Upper Church, and in the first mosaic in the Agony in the Garden Chapel.
Abraham and Sarah
Genesis tells us that God promised Abraham and Sarah they would have a child. However, after struggling to conceive for many years, Sarah grew impatient and brought her slave woman to Abraham so that she could bear a child for them. But God had not forgotten His promise. Years later, when Abraham was 99 years old, God appeared to him. He promised that Sarah would have a child, and one day their descendants would number as many as the stars. When Sarah learned of the promise, she laughed, disbelieving that a woman of her age could bear a child. Yet, within a year, Sarah gave birth to Isaac.
God sustained Abraham and Sarah through many years of childlessness and marital difficulty, ultimately blessing them with the son they so greatly longed for. Their story is a testimony of God’s faithfulness even when we doubt His goodness.
Abraham and Sarah are portrayed in a relief sculpture on the left side of the South Entrance of the Basilica.
Esther and Xerxes
When King Xerxes sought a new queen, he ordered all the beautiful women in the royal precinct of Susa to be brought to the palace so he could choose a wife. During this time, a Jewish man named Mordecai was caring for his orphaned niece Esther, a girl of exceptional beauty. Esther was brought to the palace, and out of all the young women, she was selected as the king’s favorite and declared queen. As Mordecai had advised her, she told no one of her Jewish heritage.
However, when Haman, one of the king’s trusted advisors, conceived a plot to exterminate the Jews, Esther risked her life to come before the king and plead with him on behalf of her people. The king was incensed when he heard of the plot, and had Haman hanged. Thanks to Esther’s bravery, the Jewish people were saved. Esther’s story reminds us that God has a unique purpose for each and every one of our lives and relationships.
You can find Esther and King Xerxes portrayed in a window in the Mary, Help of Christians Chapel.
Mary and Joseph
One of the most well-known couples in the Bible, Mary and Joseph played an integral role in Jesus’ life and trusted in God’s plans above all. When Mary learned that she would conceive the Savior of the world, she submitted herself completely to God’s will, exalting Him. Upon hearing of Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph at first planned to divorce her, but after the angel of the Lord appeared to Him, he honored God’s command to take her as his wife. Mary and Joseph continued to rely on God as they traveled to Bethlehem and Mary gave birth in a stable, and when they were forced to flee to Egypt because King Herod sought to have Jesus killed.
Mary and Joseph are a significant couple in the Bible, not only because they were parents to Jesus, but because they showed unwavering trust in God’s plan. They submitted to His will without question amidst dramatic surprises and challenges, continuing to support each other and rely on God’s providence as they raised Jesus.
At the Basilica, Mary and Joseph are portrayed in the Holy Family at Rest Oratory, the Rosary Garden mosaic, the Holy Family Oratory, the Nativity Chapel, the eastern chancel clerestory window, the Holy Family stained glass window, the Incarnation Dome, and the east apse soffit mosaic. We invite you to discover more about where the Holy Family is portrayed in the Basilica in this blogpost.