How About a New Reformation?

 

This Last Sunday, in Lutheran congregations, it was Reformation Sunday.

The Gospel for Reformation Sunday is from John 8:

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ ³³They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’

34 Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there for ever. ³⁶So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. ³⁷I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. ³⁸I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.’(Jn.8)

  

I’ll call it a day when reform was called for.  

A day to remind us that there is a better way.

‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’

Far back in history, from the very beginning in fact, God has been clear about what he wanted from his human creation — made in His own image.  

To care for all He had made.

                                            Care as God cares.  

Now I have always considered the Book of Leviticus a narrow listing of laws that need to be followed, to the letter, in order to be acceptable to God.  

But in Sunday’s Old Testament reading — Leviticus 19 — I found myself quite taken by the expectations printed there. 

I hear a solid sense of Jesus’ teaching on how to live together in God’s truth. 

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

2 Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy….. 15 You shall not render an unjust judgement; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. ¹⁶You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

17 You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. ¹⁸You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19)

We hear clearly, in these words, Jesus’ message of humility and servanthood.  The need to live beyond our own personal wants and needs.

To me it hit the nail smack on the head; because it calls us to a truth that is critical for us to be attentive to.  The truth that how we act — act in God’s name — is what people observe in us.

Maybe it is time for a new reformation.