I remember a time when Reformation Sunday was an occasion to celebrate our Lutheran heritage—often over and against other denominations, especially Roman Catholics. Even better, it was a day to honor, indeed memorialize, Martin Luther himself. I have fond memories of seeing the 1956 Martin Luther film and swelling with pride that I could claim his name and heritage.
In college, I saw that same film broken up into shorter segments, each introduced and concluded by Roland Bainton. My favorite part was Luther nailing the 95 Theses to the Castle Church door, witnessed by two rather scruffy men sitting on the steps waiting to venerate the relics inside. After Luther left, one of the men got up to peer at the paper and returned to his friend to say with a shrug, “Just something written in Latin.” That was the end of one of the segments of the film, followed by Bainton, a slight figure in a jaunty bow tie saying forcefully, “If only they knew what this really meant, each and every German would have stood up and shouted ‘Jawohl!’”
Thankfully, we’re past that—at least I hope so. Still, it’s all too easy to settle on turning the day into a monument to Martin Luther and our Lutheran heritage. Humans are good at building monuments literally and figuratively.
Shortly after the start of the new millennium, the Lutheran World Federation was considering what their contribution to the 500-year Reformation Jubilee in 2017 would be. They did not want a monument of stone or bronze, but a living monument, one that would represent unity in reconciled diversity, rather than division. The quote attributed to Martin Luther, “if the world collapsed tomorrow, I would still plant an apple tree today” led to the idea of planting trees: 500 trees for the 500 years of the Reformation.
And the idea of a “Luthergarten” in Wittenberg came about. Different tree species would symbolize the diversity of Christian churches. The one garden in which the trees grow would stand for their common bond. As the trees grow, the garden would continually change shape, just as the inspiration of the Reformation should keep growing and changing.
At the center of the garden is the emblem of the Luther Rose. The first five trees planted between the petals of the rose were to stand for five Christian World Communions (Anglicans, Reformed, Methodists, Catholics, and Orthodox). The tree for the Lutheran World Federation stands at the entrance to the Luther Rose.
An invitation went out to individuals, church bodies, congregations, institutions and organizations to not only sponsor a tree but to participate in actually planting it. Furthermore, a “partner tree” was to be planted on the grounds of the sponsor. In 2011 I was in Wittenberg, Germany on Reformation Day and, along with Arden Haug (ELCA regional representative for Europe and director of the ELCA Wittenberg Center), planted a littleleaf linden (tree #103) on behalf of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. Of course, the tree was basically already in place, having been planted at its ideal time. Arden and I simply added a bit of soil. But what had the most meaning for me was that we were accompanied by two young girls carrying pitchers of water which they poured around the tree. I’ve only seen “my” tree once since them, but I’m told the trees are flourishing. The Philipp Melanchthon Protestant Secondary School harvests the fruit and joins the LWF in celebrating September as a “Season of Creation” with a Creation Festival.
A living monument for the generations, indeed!
It seems to me the readings assigned for Reformation Day/Sunday are also “living monuments.” Jeremiah speaks of a new covenant, not written on stone tablets, but on human hearts. Paul speaks of not making ourselves right with God through works of the law, but through the crucified and living Christ. John speaks of a freeing rather than binding truth, giving us a place in the household forever.
Psalm 46 was the inspiration for that great Reformation anthem, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” a hymn almost certain to be sung on this day. There are two ways to hear this hymn. One is to focus on the fortress—a stone wall or bulwark that provides protection. The other is to focus on the living God as protection. Some scholars have suggested the hymn was written in protest over the building of a stone wall around the city of Wittenberg, expecting it would provide the protection needed. The Luthergarten is planted on the outside of the city wall, perhaps as a reminder that God’s protection is alive still today.
As you prepare for Reformation Sunday, what living monument might you create? Trees? A pollinator garden? A bird sanctuary? A source of fresh water? What other churches might you partner with in creating your monument? How might you involve children in creating and nurturing your living monument? How will you share its fruits with others?
Now that might deserve a resounding “Jawohl!”
Rev. Karen G. Bockelman
Retired
Duluth, MN
Pastor Karen G. Bockelman is a retired ELCA pastor, living in Duluth, MN. Part of her heart is in Rhode Island and part of her heart is in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. On November 17 she will assemble her Moravian star in thanksgiving for the brightness of the wise ones. She will continue to pay tribute to the “sumud” the resilience of the Palestinian people.