Matthew – Confident.Faith

Today we commemorate the birth of Martin Chemnitz, Pastor and Confessor. Known as “the other Martin”, Martin Chemnitz stands as, aside from Martin Luther, the most important theologian in the history of the Lutheran Church. When disagreements arose in the wake of Luther’s death, it was Chemnitz who became the driving force behind the Formula of Concord, which restored unity. Among his many works, the four-volume Examination of the Council of Trent stands as one of Chemnitz’s greatest works; in the Examen, Chemnitz subjected the teachings of the Roman church to Scripture and to the Church Fathers — Rome has never responded.

Today we commemorate Johannes von Staupitz, Luther’s Father Confessor. Vicar-General of the Augustinian order in Germany, Johannes von Staupitz was born in Saxony. Called in 1503, by Frederick the Wise, to serve as dean of the theological faculty at the newly established University of Wittenberg, von Staupitz would go on to encourage Luther to obtain his doctorate in theology and to appoint Luther to be his successor as professor of Bible at Wittenberg. It was von Staupitz who counseled Luther early on in Luther’s life, when Luther was an Augustinian monk struggling with the idea of God’s grace, to focus not upon himself but upon Christ.

Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints’ Day. As Easter celebrates the resurrection of Christ, so All Saints’ Day celebrates the resurrection of all those who believe in Him. On this day, we contemplate the scope and scale of Christ’s work — winning for His Kingdom men, women, and children from every tribe and nation. We are, indeed, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. It is such resurrection that allows us to confess that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed”. Today we celebrate with the entire Church catholic the coming eternal Kingdom and the consummation of all things.

Today we celebrate the Feast of All Souls’ Day. All Souls’ Day is the first of two days in the season of Allhallowtide (which began yesterday on Halloween). Where All Saints’ Day is a joyous celebration of the resurrection of all who believe in Christ, All Souls’ Day is a somber contemplation of sin and mortality. The Festival of All Souls’ Day is rightly observed with fasting and prayer, both as individual Christians and as Christian nations.