Reformation

Today is a very big deal for our Lutheran sisters and brothers, for it is Reformation Day. I wonder why we and other Protestant Churches don’t also celebrate Luther’s daring expose of the abuses, heresies and hypocrisies of the Church at that time.

Today is also the day both Moses and Jesus remind us why reformation remains a necessary correction throughout history. To be the people of God we must put God first in our lives and trust all else will follow. To be followers of Christ we must do this with self-giving love for others who are equally beloved of God.

What does it mean to us today to love our neighbor as ourselves? Let’s turn it around and ponder, how would we want to be loved by our neighbors? Would we appreciate being given a smile to our face and gossiped about behind our back? Being liked for what we can give or do for the church, not just who we are? Being promised one thing and experiencing another without accountability or apology? Being ignored? Of course not. All such negative behaviors need reformation if we want to give the world a chance to know and follow Jesus Christ as the Way of Love.

Let us give thanks to Luther for calling us to accountability for how we live our faith. Let us grow in our willingness and capacity to love with genuine respect, consideration and acceptance of others. Let us speak truth in love and gently correct each other and guide each other. Let us seek ways to encourage instead of criticizing, to welcome, be present to, and forgive each other.

This is how we grow in God’s love, how we radiate God’s love into all the places that need it.

This is how we show the world there is such a thing as true religion, and it matters for the good of all and the glory of God.

Amen.