Reformation of life
Dear brothers and sisters!
October comes very suddenly. We just had a spike in the
temperature – a September heat wave. WOW week at Cal Poly passed, and then, to
our surprise, October comes. Usually, it gets more obvious with toy pumpkins
and other decorations on display at the stores. Every store tries to outdo the
next in pushing merchandise related to the feast at the very end of October.
And if you walk into a store and ask about the feast, you won’t get the answer
that I prefer. Almost everything that is sold, one way or another, is related
to death, while our heritage encourages us to concentrate on life.
Dr. Martin Luther was thinking about the lives of his
parishioners when he nailed the invitation for a discussion of his 95 theses to
the Wittenberg church door. He knew that the church would be full that night,
for the people used to come for the All the Saint’s Day Eve service. The
posting of the 95 theses was not an exhibition of his pride – he was already a
doctor of the Church, and his income did not depend on it. Also, it was not an
attempt to present something controversial for the sake of intellectual
discussion – some kind of brain teaser. It was genuine care for the lives on
earth, and most importantly for the eternal destiny of his flock. Men and
Women, families with and without children, rich and poor, German and non-German
alike, clergy, monks, laity, etc.
Eternal lives were at stake – for the TRUTH will make you
free, the truth which is found in the Word of God (John 8:32). “God’s Word
forever shall abide,” a line in his most favorite hymn (LSB 657:4). For what will
set your mind at ease? Government? Rulers come and go – good ones and the bad
ones. The beloved Saxony of little Martin no longer exists, it’s Germany now.
There used to be 13 original colonies of the British Empire, and now we live in
the United States of America. There is no earthly power or authority –
government, money, or army – that can survive the ultimate test of time. Yet,
the Word of the LORD endures forever (1 Pet. 2:24-25).
This Word purifies the hearts, pointing to the
remnant of sin in our lives, leading to confession, comforting with Words of
forgiveness for Christ’s sake, and leading us to the path of maturation (2 Tim.
3:16). This purification of hearts combined leads to the purification of the
Church. The Church of Luther’s times needed to be purged, the churches of the
West need cleansing now. That is why every year on October 31, celebrating the
Reformation Day, we gladly remember a humble attempt to turn people’s attention
to the promises of the Gospel. The Gospel that soothes the soul, the Gospel
that helps to fight overwhelming anxiety, the Gospel that shuts down any
accusation toward the ones who want to live in peace with God the Father, Son,
and the Holy Spirit.
