The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017. Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
Over the next couple of months, each day, I will offer a single theses for rumination and consideration. To be sure, some will be less invigorating that others. Still, if you follow along, you will cover each of them over the next 95 days.
Please note that I will be using Timothy Wengert's "95 Theses with Introduction, Commentary, and Study Guide." If you don't have a copy, pick one up, it is an excellent resource.
[The Ninety-Five Theses or] Disputation for Clarifying the Power of Indulgences
Out of love and zeal for bringing truth to light, what is written below will be debated in Wittenberg with the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology and regularly appointed lecturer on these subjects at that place, presiding. Therefore, he requests that those who cannot be present to discuss orally with us will in their absence do so by letter. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, in saying "Do penance ...," wanted the entire life of the faithful to be one of penitence.
We begin our study with Luther's emphasis that ours are lives filled with brokenness and sin. Grace can only be truly felt if we are willing to acknowledge our need. This involves all of our lives.
Today, as you aware of your brokenness and sin, where do you see and experience grace and love?
Let us pray, Gracious Lord just as we are reminded of our sin, may be also be ever mindful of your grace that suppresses, supplants, and supersedes our sin. Amen.
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