Katharina von Bora. That is the name of the woman who Martin Luther ended up marrying during the Reformation. Ordinarily, when one thinks of the Reformation, one may end up thinking primarily about people like: Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Melancthon, King Henry the VIII, and so on. Far too often, women take the back seat in our history books and thoughts (I know they do for me). So for this newsletter, let’s explore Katharina’s life and legacy in the Reformation.
“People are impelled to pray, we must do so. Prayer is an action as well as a supplication to the Lord that he will put us in that posture which is pleasing to him.”
This small snippet of Karl Barth on what it means to pray has been on my mind quite recently. I always try to avoid in my preaching human agency or action, so as not to make it seem like human action is more important than the actions that God has taken in the world.
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.”
You may have heard some version of this when watching any version of A Christmas Carol. This quote is spoken by Ebenezer Scrooge to the ghost of Christmas future, who shows him some quite unsavory realities that may come to pass if he does not change.
“This little light of mine, I’m goin’a let it shine; This little light of mine, I’m goin’a let it shine; This little light of mine, I’m goin’a let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let is shine.” (This Little Light of Mine, an African American Spiritual, ELW 677, verse 1.)
This week, we hear Jesus say to his disciples, “You are the light of the world.
“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice, with heart and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave; Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all, to gain the everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!” – Third verse of “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” by John Mason Neale, ELW 288.
Merry Christmas! Yes, I know it is January. Did you think that Christmas has come and gone?