By Deacon Timothy Siburg
Revised Common Lectionary reflection for Reformation Sunday, Year B
October 27, 2024
Key Verse: “For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” -Romans 3:22-24
Grace is a gift. Period. And that changes everything. That’s a central tenant of the Reformation. Through God’s work and promises, God’s people are saved and given new life. Not because of our work or deservedness, but because of God’s deep-abiding and abundant love and grace. Pure and simple, grace is a gift from God that God alone can and does give. Because so much of today’s Christian witness is steeped in decision theology and works righteousness, preachers need to remind God’s people again and again of this truth. Reformation Sunday provides an excellent preaching opportunity.
In this week’s Epistle lesson from Romans, Paul writes, “For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is Christ Jesus” (vv 3:22-24). Grace is something that we ourselves could never earn or deserve, and it is the gift of faith through which we are justified through God in Christ’s work and action for God’s beloved.
Martin Luther rediscovered this nugget of Gospel truth, and it fueled the spirit of the Reformation. This is the Good News that continues to shape a Lutheran understanding of Christianity and the gospel, and much of the Protestant tradition.
The history of the Reformation may be researched elsewhere. For our purposes of thinking about stewardship, Paul provides a lens. God goes to such an extent for God’s children to show righteousness (v. 3:25) and “to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus” (v. 3:26).
This naturally leads to questions: So what?” Or, as Luther might ask in the Small Catechism, “What does this mean?” Paul anticipates the question and continues, “Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law” (vv. 3:27-28). This theological nuance matters. Because it moves the onus of salvation from us to God alone. Our salvation is not up to us.
This understanding frees us from carrying the burden of our own salvation. It’s the gift, then, that is given and affirmed in baptism. It’s the priceless gift that we receive. The questions then follow, “What do we do for it? What do we do because of it? How are our lives changed?” Big questions. But the first answer is that everything changes because of God’s grace. With it, we are no longer bound to our worries of measuring up for God. No one, by their own effort or gifts, will ever be enough. And that’s precisely the point. We need God to be God, so that we can stop trying to be God.
We need to cling to the promises proclaimed in Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (v. 1). Psalm 46 belongs in the Reformation story, too, because of its comfort and assurance, which Martin Luther found when wrestling with his faith. But more than that, it provides a reassurance not only that God is God, but also that God has us and is with us. We remember the psalmist’s call, “’Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.’ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (vv.10-11).
When we truly remember this freedom and gift of grace, we are freed to live, serve, grow as disciples, and respond as stewards. As Jesus taught us, “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). So, how, then, will we live and respond? Will we go about daily life the same as yesterday, kind of going through the motions? Or will we go through life forever changed, bearing, sharing, and showing the same grace that Jesus shows to us daily?
As stewards we are invited to be bearers of Jesus’ love and Good News, forever grateful and filled with joy and praise for all that God has done, will do, and promises to do for us. This joy and praise leads us daily, shaping our decisions and guiding all we do as disciples and stewards of God’s abundant and abiding love.
In Worship and Congregational Life
In the spirit of the Reformation, we acknowledge that Christ’s church is always forming and re-forming. Some ideas will be new and different, while others timeworn and being rediscovered for a new age. Such is the movement of the Spirit. We can invite the whole body of Christ and priesthood of all believers together to name the Spirit’s movement. Consider playing on the theme of Martin Luther’s nailing the “95 Theses” on the church doors at Wittenberg. Pose questions to the community and invite responses written on Post-It notes or cards. Congregants could post the responses on a church door or (or space representing a door). Questions could include:
- Name one way you feel we are being called to meet our neighbors where they are?
- Fill in the blank: Because I am freed through Christ’s grace and love, I will respond by _________.
- Suggest one idea: What might God be up to in our congregation, and inviting among us as a congregation?
Worship with Youth and Children
At least among Lutheran Christian congregations, there is familiarity with Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Based on that work, some might think Luther wrote the words, “This is most certainly true,” more than anything else. Actually, more frequently he wrote the question, “What is this?” (Or, as it has been more commonly translated into English, “What does this mean?”) This would be a good week to turn the Children’s Sermon around and invite the younger saints to ask the question. Invite the younger faithful to ask, “What does this mean?” with respect to anything in church and worship. Perhaps a question might spark another question, and before you know it, you might just have another Reformation on your hand.
Previous reflections for Reformation Sunday, Year B:
2018 – What do you really want from Jesus?
2015 – Oh, the options!
2012 – Open my eyes and write on my heart
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