07 March 2006

Luther Thought

The following Luther thought seems quite fitting for meditation during the Lenten fast:

This life is not godliness, but growth in godliness;
not health, but healing;
not being, but becoming;
not rest, but exercise.
We are not now what we shall be, but we are on the way;
the process is not yet finished, but it has begun;
this is not the goal, but it is road;
at present all does not gleam and glitter, but everything is being
purified.
- Martin Luther, A Defense and Explanation of All Articles (AE 32:24)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

"process"? "BEING purified"? Holy Cow! Someone better tell Luther that he doesn't sound very Lutheran here!

Fr. Cota

William Weedon said...

LOL, Fr. Cota! That's what is so GREAT about Doctor Luther - he doesn't like to stay put in the categories where people try to shove him.

As to process, have you ever pondered the LW use of the Kyrie litany from the Greeks? "For the peace from above *and for our salvation*, let us pray to the Lord"?

: )