Exactly 500 years ago today…
October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses sa gate of Wittenberg chapel sa Germany. Naglalaman ito ng series of protest sa mga maling doktrina ng Roman Catholic Church. Hindi niya naimagine na it will spark the Protestant Reformation.
Don’t think that “old guys” movement itong Reformation. That day was 10 days before Luther’s 34th birthday. Fellow young adults, don’t think that your life now cannot make an impact that can change the course of history.
21 years old si Luther nang magkaroon ng dramatic turn ang buhay niya. May thunderstorm noon, nagtatravel siya, tumama ang kidlat malapit sa kanya. Nagpray siya, “Santa Ana, tulungan mo ako. Magiging monghe ako.”
Tinupad niya yung vows na yun. Binenta ang lahat, pumasok sa monasteryo, very religious, very devout, at kung meron daw makakapasok sa langit by being a monk, siya na yun. But his conscience troubled him. Alam niyang banal ang Diyos at siya ay teribleng makasalanan sa kabila ng pagiging relihiyoso niya. Araw-araw siyang nasa confessional booth, ilang oras na nagcoconfess ng kasalanan, naiinis na ang nakikininig na pari sa kanya at sinasabihan siyang, “Wag kang babalik dito hangga’t meron ka nang kasalanang worth confessing!”
His true conversion came when he discovered the good news in Romans. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith'” (1:16-17).
Tayo ay itinuring ng Diyos na matuwid sa harapan niya hindi sa anumang merit na meron tayo, but solely on the merits of Christ. Hindi rin 50-50. Talamak kasi noon ang practice ng indulgences, na pwede kang bumili o magbayad sa church para mapabilis ang pamamalagi ng kamag-anak mo sa purgatoryo at makapasok na sa langit. Meron silang tinatawag noon ng treasury of merits na parang nandoon yung sobra-sobrang merits ni Jesus, ni Mary at ng iba pang mga saints. At doon kukuha para macover yung maraming demerits.
Kaya no. 62 sa 95 Theses ni Luther ay ito: “The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.” The story of the Reformation is a story of rediscovering the gospel.
At ang kuwentong ito ay magpapatuloy hanggang ngayon. Fellow Christians, let us treasure this gospel and proclaim it to the whole world…whatever the cost.
#Reformation500
Treasuring Christ PH 