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.
2. This phrase cannot be understood as referring to sacramental Penance, that is, confession and satisfaction as administered by the clergy.
Luther is suggesting here that to "do penance" means something closer to "come to one's senses". He learned this from Erasmus, another reformation age scholar. This means that to "do penance" as the Lord suggests is not to be equated purely with religious acts of penitence (i.e. confession and absolution).
Today, find a moment to give thanks that you can have a personal relationship with the Lord without the need for anyone else.
Jesus, thank you for loving me personally and uniquely. Amen.
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