Territorial Bloggings

A wonderfully thought provoking post made by FatherDMJ, wherein he gives an update on his wisdom tooth removal saga, but (more importantly/interestingly) also opines about the nature of how the Reformation is best viewed.

Quoting:

This Sunday I covered a dual parish for the guy who was our Fall Mission Sunday preacher and liturgist. I am itching to get back into my pulpit this week. It’s Reformation Sunday this coming Sunday. My attitude toward this day has turned considerably over the last 8 years. I now view it as a day of humiliation, supplication, and prayer. Almost a fasting day, actually. We should be in great contrition for the mockery the Western Church has made of Blessed Martin Luther’s attempt to reeducate the Western Church in Holy Scripture. Now, we turn him into a schismatic who told Rome to “go bugger off” so we can do our own thing. It’s as if we must sing “A Mighty Fortress” with our middle finger extended in the general direction of Rome. The Reformation was about reforming the Church catholic to bring Her back to God’s Word, not to start a new church that must look completely different than Rome. We pastors have failed to bring this attitude to our people in a way that is consistent. If anything, we should use Reformation Sunday to take stock of our sin of pride and greed with the opportunity to receive Holy Absolution and a vow to preach and teach the Word with great boldness and to catechize our flock on what it truly means to be Lutheran. It means not to be schismatic. It means to reclaim our catholic heritage as a Church that treats Holy Scripture as Holy Scripture, the Gospel as the Gospel, the Sacraments as Sacraments, the liturgy as liturgy, and piety as true piety and not “me and Jesus” drivel.

That’s all I want to say about the Reformation.

This is great stuff. I’m ashamed that I’ve never taken the time and/or consideration to view the Reformation from the vantage point that FatherDMJ lays out; however, I’m also very grateful that he’s done so, so that I can now do so. I’ll certainly keep it in mind this Sunday…

-ghp