Matthew 22:34-46
We in the
Lutheran Church and other denominations have been looking forward to this day
for at least a decade. We commemorate the day Luther posted the document that
became known as the Ninety-Five Theses for public review. Whether he nailed the
list to the door of the Castle Church or if he posted them in another location,
is unimportant. What happened next is important.
Luther objected to
the use of indulgences to buy forgiveness. Posting his list in a public place
was in his day like posting a comment on Facebook or making a video for the
evening news. The intent was a discussion among scholars to call the Church (with
a capital C) into reformation. What happened was something much farther
reaching. His objections caused radical change in the way the Church thinks
about God and our relationship with God.
Luther himself was
transformed in the process. He went from a simple objection to purchasing
forgiveness to a deep understanding that forgiveness is anchored in the
sacraments of baptism and holy communion.
Forgiveness
itself comes from our relationship with God. Forgiveness is given to us easily,
because of God’s love and care for us. That’s what grace is … forgiveness we
don’t think we deserve.
During the last
500 years, the worldwide Church has recognized the validity of many of Luther’s
points. Just a few decades after the day we mark today, with the nailing of the
95 Theses on the church door, the Roman Catholic Church met in Trent, Italy,
and agreed that some of his points were valid.
In the last 50
years, since the Second Vatical Council, Lutheran bodies around the world have
sought to restore our relationship with other Christians. Especially, we have
been in serious dialogue to mend the relationship with the Roman Catholic
Church. Today, we agree that many of the things that have seemed to divide us
are actually different ways of saying the same thing.
Yesterday
morning I joined Lutherans from at least 5 congregations and many Catholics in
worship. We prayed and sang together. We introduced ourselves to each other,
Catholic priests and Lutheran pastors, and recognized the validity of our
similar calls as servants of God. Many of the wounds of the Reformation are
healing, and that’s a very good thing. We all agree that God’s grace is a gift
we can’t earn, but a gift that is freely given.
… Let’s
look at the Gospel for today. The Pharisees challenge Jesus again. “What do you
say is the greatest commandment?” I think Jesus gives them the answer they were
expecting. “You shall love God with your whole being. And you shall love your
neighbor as yourself.” These two commandments summarize the ten.
I have often
said that if we remember the first commandment – put God first in our lives –
all the rest falls into place. Taking time out for God each day reminds us that
we are not God. We remember that God loves us and wants to be with us. We remember
that God wants the best for each and every one of us.
If we remember
that all people are created in the image of God, then we remember to care for
them. If we remember that the God who created us loves us, all of us, then we
may find it easier to love others. It is easier to treat our family members, neighbors,
friends, acquaintances, and chance encounters with love and respect we want for
ourselves.
Out of
curiosity, I looked on the internet to see what Luther might have said about
today’s Gospel text. Not surprisingly, if you have ever read any of Luther’s
writings, the sermon was lengthy and twisted and turned around the point he wished
to make. Here is one paragraph of the sermon.
As if Christ said: If you love God with all
your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, then nothing will be
lacking; you shall experience it in your daily life, namely: when everything
you do, whether you wake or sleep, whether you labor or stand idle, whether you
eat or drink, is directed and done out of love to God from the heart. In like
manner your mind and thoughts will also be directed wholly and entirely to God,
so that you will approve of nothing you are not certain is pleasing to God.
Yea, where are those who do this?
In essence, Luther
says that the law is written on the heart and we obey it naturally. We are to
love God with our whole being and love our neighbors as ourselves. If you want
to give your neighbor a special kindness, do not do it to make points with God,
but do it because you love your neighbor.
… I said last
week after watching the video that I appreciated Bishop Eaton’s use of the term
“Lutheran Movement”. The word movement implies that we are always being made
new, always being reformed, always changing. Society is always changing, and we
in the Church must always be changing in order to reach those who have never
heard the good news.
Some of those
who need to hear the good news are those who go to churches where they are
taught that they must do good things, they must obey the rules, in order for
God to love them. They are taught that dancing, or watching TV, or playing card
games, or loving the “wrong” person (there are lots of examples of wrong
persons), will make God angry and stop loving them.
Lutherans say
God loves us first and always. In response to that love, we worship and praise
God and do good things for our neighbors. We know it is not possible to be
perfect, so we don’t try. We accept that God loves us, forgives us, and wants
to be in relationship with us. We live in grace.
Please pray with
me. Reforming God, be with us around the world as we remember Martin Luther’s bold
action this week. Lead us to be just as trusting and just as bold. Amen
