OFFERTORY THOUGHT
On October 31st 1517 A German Monk by the name of Martin Luther marched over to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg and nailed 95 Theses to the door condemning the fiscal practices of the mother church in Rome particularly the extravagances of Pope Leo X. Luther's crime on that day was the defacing of the Wittenburg church’s door, but his criticism of the Church in which he served as a priest would resonate throughout Europe and start a revolution. It was probably time for some sort of upheaval since most of Europe had dwelt in what were called the Dark Ages for 1000 years; they were ripe for a revolution. To be fair to the Pope Leo X, it is true Pope Leo was not a priest, he was a business man in every sense of the word. History tells us that Pope Leo was indeed a swinger, but he was also patron of charity, lavishly spending the money he earned for the church, building retirement homes, hospitals, convents, caring for the discharged soldiers, pilgrims, poor students, exiles, cripples, the sick and the unfortunate of every description. Pope Leo was also a patron of learning. The question was how he made the money for these ventures and his own personal appetites. He not only sold indulgences, he sold cardinals hats, and memberships in the “Knights of Peter.” By selling what were called indulgences the Pope in Martin Luther’s treatise was selling the absolution of all penalties to the dead. He was selling the assurance of heaven for those who awaited judgment in purgatory. Martin Luther is one of the first people (because there were many others) to bring the church closer to the folks implanting the idea of participation with God in becoming holy people, part of the priesthood of all believers. This is why we support the church with our gifts, because here is where we work out our salvation.
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