From the Principal
Be reformed!
In the last weeks, the College celebrated Reformation Day - a significant day in the church year for Lutherans.
Our students usually remember this day as ‘big door day’ when we provide an opportunity for students to write a prayer for the world and nail it to our specifically constructed door used for that occasion!
Reformation Day celebrates Martin Luther posting a list of 95 Theses on a church door in Wittenberg October 31, 1517. This document outlined 95 reasons that he objected to this practice of selling indulgences. Along with other writings by Martin Luther, those 95 Reasons “went viral.”
Luther insisted that we are not forgiven because of anything we do – including the buying of Indulgences or doing enough good work. Instead, we are forgiven because of who God is. We are loved and forgiven because God is full of grace and mercy.
His teachings and writings got Martin Luther kicked out of the church. But he didn’t go alone. Others agreed with him, and after his death those who agreed with Luther became known as Lutherans and also as Protestants.
Allow me to share three great points written by a man known to us all, previous College pastor, Pastor Nathan Hedt:
“1. Reformation Sunday gives us a chance to tell our story – a chance to remember.
We all have a family story – how we got to this point in history. Stories about parents and grandparents, about the things that have shaped our families over the years. Reformation Sunday is a day when we remember and re-tell the family stories of our faith. Stories about men and women who came before us and taught us about the faith. Stories about people who risked everything so that we would be able to gather and worship in the manner that we do.
2. Reformation Sunday reminds us of the most important things.
Throughout the year we preach about many things in church. About how we live our daily lives, the choices we make, the habits of our faith. On Reformation Sunday we are brought back to the most important thing – the thing that compelled Luther and others to risk their lives.
On Reformation Sunday, we return to the core of our faith: God loved us first, and God continues to shower us with grace and mercy.
3. Reformation Sunday challenges us to do better
Through re-telling our story and returning to the core of our faith, Reformation Sunday prods us to do better.
We are called to be more loving and grace-filled, because God was gracious and merciful to us. We are called to repent of the times that we have placed barriers that have kept others from hearing the Good News. We are called to remember that all that we are is a gift from God.
In the church in Wittenberg where Martin Luther preached, there is a wonderful painting. In it Luther stands in the pulpit on the right hand side, and the people stand on the left. In between people and the preacher is Christ on the cross. Reformation Sunday is a reminder that this is the bedrock of our faith – the grace and mercy given to us in Jesus Christ. Keeping the most important thing in the centre of the picture is the only hope for our faith and for this community that we call “church.””
May the blessing of recalling our past heroes and heroines of our faith encourage us to continue reforming our world, to ensure that each and every human has their basic needs and rights met, guided by the Holy Spirit.
Blessings
Tom