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Reformation Sunday So, when we speak of Reformation…what do we mean? We each have certain ideas, perhaps. As a Lutheran congregation, I think it is very important for us—on this “Reformation Sunday”—to reflect upon The Reformation and the concept of reform in general. We do this so that we might come to better terms with our Christian identity—for the sake of all Christians everywhere—and to think about who and what God is calling us to be…This is our Lutheran task, I think…to continue asking the question…”Who and what is God calling us to be?” There are many ways to understand reformation, and so this morning, I am going to reframe everything (basically) into my own words...in hopes that the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of God) might use my word to talk us and, in the spirit of Martin Luther—the great reformer of the Church in the 16th century—that we might be empowered somehow to be God’s agents of renewal for the Church in our own day and age…for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen. Today, I am going to risk unveiling a new theological formula (that I invented yesterday) to talk about what “reformation” is. It’s called “Bowl of Soup Theology.” But First of all…a word about reformation from Martin Luther himself (this is taken from a short treatise written in 1523 offering general and practical advice for reforming the church specifically through worship): In brief, let everything be completed in one hour or whatever time seems desirable; for one must not overload souls or weary them, as was the case until now in monasteries and convents, where they burdened themselves like mules… And so, confronted by these words of Martin Luther, I have come to two basic realizations: First, effective reformation should be practical and applicable to our lives. For instance, a mentor of mine once told me, “Josh, stop praying so long when people are hungry or you’ll turn people away from the faith.” This was good advice…a good reform. Secondly, I realized I had better try to keep this relatively short…for your sake. After all, who am I to argue with (Martin Luther) the man of the hour? Luther continues, “For all that matters is that the Word of God be given free reign to uplift and quicken souls so that they do not become weary.” The Lutheran premise is that the good news (the gospel) of God, found in scripture, will save the world. It’s like a remedy for all of our ailments, our sins, and our sickness. It’s as if God, the great physician, has created a remedy for all that is wrong with you and me and the whole world; a remedy that is like a good and hearty bowl of soup that soothes, replenishes and nourishes us back to health when we are sick. In John’s Gospel, Jesus is talking with Jews who had believed in him. It’s as if these are ones teetering on the brim of the bowl, trying to decide whether to jump in to God’s gospel—to give it free reign over their lives--or to jump out and ignore God’s remedy altogether. So Jesus says, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” We believe that truth about God is revealed to us in Jesus Christ through scripture…the good news of God is found explicitly in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ’s life, his death and his resurrection are the ingredients of the soup. Everything about this man, Jesus, teaches us about and brings us into union with our God who is gracious and merciful and faithful…Jesus Soup: the more we eat of it, the stronger we become. Now, like any good and hearty soup, you need something to serve it in, right? A bowl! (We can’t just have sick people coming into the kitchen and eating straight off the stove, can we?) And that’s where the Church comes in. God created a vessel for the nourishing remedy that is Jesus Christ. The Church is the vessel of the gospel through history… The problem is that sometimes the vessel can make the soup inedible or at least unappealing. Who wants to eat out of a dirty bowl? Or a bowl that has already been used for something other than soup? The role of the Church is to be the vessel for the gospel, the bowl for the Jesus Soup…so that the gospel might have free reign among Christians, so that the whole world might taste the redemption in him. This is what reformation is about: The container/vessel/bowl that is the Church gets dirty and it needs to be cleaned. So that the gospel of Jesus Christ can heal the world’s wounds. Brothers and sisters, remember that when we are talking about the Church we are talking about people…the Body of Christ. You are the Church! You have an important role to play in God’s plan for salvation in the world. Martin Luther called you the priesthood of all believers. A priest is a peoples’ representative with God and that is who you are called to be…ambassadors with God for one another. You are a bowl of Jesus Soup for the world. The good news gives you freedom, my fiends. What about you? Will you give God free reign within you? I rejoice with the confirmands who today say, “Yes! I want to be a Jesus Christ Soup Bowl so that someone else might know Christ in me.” May this be the spirit within us all.
Reformation.
This is not the first time, it won’t be the last, but yes, it is
time for a reformation. Joshua W. Magyar, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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