“Though hordes of devils fill the land, all threat’ning to devour us;”*
It’s the week of All Hallow’s Eve. I suppose if one googled the history of “Halloween” one would discover a number of descriptions and reasons why it came to be what it is today. From the Druids centuries ago trying to frighten off evil spirits to someone somewhere thinking that if November 1st is for all the good saints then there has to be an antithesis of that, therefore, we have a night where the “not-so-good-dead” roam the earth. Equality for all, even for the dead. Can’t have one without the other, or, so some think.
It is a time where adults and children alike are more likely to watch scary movies and dress in garb that they usually wouldn’t dress in, just for a daunting trick (or treat, depending on who is doing the tricking!) The occult and other such frightening things tend to come to the surface a lot this time of year for the same reasons. People – even faithful people – lose a little of their pride and confidence when it gets dark at night during this time of the year. So, Dr. Luther responds to the “devils” in our lives:
“…we tremble not unmoved we stand, they cannot overpow’r us…”*
Luther was known to believe himself that if faced with an evil dilemma, all one had to do was sing a hymn as loud as one could, or, quote scripture aloud, or, profess your faith proudly (like the Apostles’ Creed), and the devil could not remain. He even flees at the faith of a little child.
While at the Wartburg Castle, where Luther was held “captive” and there translated the New Testament into German, (in only around ten weeks!). It is said that the devil visited him on a number of occasions there. One night, as Luther tired of his work, he noticed that the devil was sitting in the corner of his little room, with pen and paper in hand. “What are you doing here, you old goat?” Luther asked. The devil smiled a big smile and said, confidently, “Why, Dr. Luther, I’m writing down all of your sins, for they will be held against you one day!” With that he gave a ghastly laugh. Without even batting an eyelash, Luther walked over to the devil and snatched the paper out of his hands. He went back to his writing table and began writing on the paper himself. Surprised, the devil asked, “What are you doing now?” “Why, I’m writing down some more of my sins that you haven’t even thought of, for if you are going to face my Lord and Saviour with such a list, you must know for every sin that He died…died for me!” And Luther gave a great laugh. In a moment, the devil disappeared.
“…Let this world’s tyrant rage, in battle we’ll engage. His might is doomed to fail, God’s judgment must prevail! One little word subdues him…”*
God’s Word. One word, a word of love and forgiveness, a gesture of the same nature…and the “hordes of devils..in our land…” flee for refuge from God’s mighty grace. Do not fear, love!
Enjoy Reformation Day, (also known as Halloween)!
God loves you and so do we!
Pastor Jim
*–verse three of Martin Luther’s Hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” – page 504, ELW.