When making a new recipe, I am likely to spend time after the meal talking about how it turned out, exploring what I would change the next time for a better result. Is there enough salt? Should the onions be cut smaller? Would it be better with chicken or pork? In their teen years, at least one of my daughters would complain and ask, “Do we have to talk about the food? Can’t we just eat it?” I always tried to explain that reflecting on how the recipe and my execution of it turned out was helpful preparation for future tries, and even different recipes.
Somehow this year, as I’ve thought about Reformation Sunday (marked this year on 30 October 2022), I’ve been thinking about my tendency to look at how meals turn out and make plans for the next. Reformation Sunday is a day when we remember the work of Church reformers like Martin Luther, lifting up the ways they helped move the people of God from old and harmful understandings of God and pointed out the loving and gracious God we find in Jesus’ words and ministry as well as in countless other places in scripture. Celebrating the Reformation is not simply a day to mark our history, but also an opportunity to consider our future. The church and all of Jesus’ followers are still in the midst of reformation. Reform is an ongoing process, and as we strive to follow Jesus, we can reflect on how the following is going, reshaping our attitudes and actions based on how well we are living out the love of God and caring for our neighbors.
I wish I could tell you that the old understandings of God that troubled Martin Luther and his contemporaries are a long-gone history, but the mistaken image of a harsh and punishing God who is eager to cast people into eternal punishment for their wrongs still persist. Yet, God who is creator of all that is good, loves all creation more than we can comprehend. God sees us for who we are, imperfect and struggling and loves us. God’s reaches out in love and compassion for everyone, forgiving and blessing us and healing our brokenness. This love is without limit and without cost – nothing we do can earn God’s love and nothing we do can reduce God’s love, either.
As we make our way through the challenges of each day, we can consider how well we have reflected and shared the love and grace of God in our attitudes and actions. Was I compassionate with my roommate? Can I forgive the way someone wronged me yesterday? Could I be more loving and patient in my reaction next time? We are imperfect and human, so when we will fail we can try again, always trusting that God’s love and forgiveness are ever present. We grow in the life of faith as we reflect on how we have effectively (and sometimes ineffectively) lived the love for the world that Jesus calls us to. This is helpful preparation for our future days following Jesus.
May God’s limitless love for you and all the world fill you with hope as you reform and follow.
Peace,
Alicia