Advent Week 1: The Heavens Were Shaken, The People of Earth Were Agitated
This Advent season over the next four weeks, we will reflect upon the sermon Martin Luther preached from his Wartburg Church sometime in 1521 or 1522.[1] This period of Luther’s life was significant, as he was effectively in hiding after being excommunicated and declared a heretic by the Diet of Worms in 1521. Emperor Charles V, influenced by the Church, had summoned Martin Luther to the Diet (an imperial assembly) held in the city of Worms, Germany, to either retract or defend his statements challenging the authority and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, particularly the sale of indulgences. It was in this context that he uttered the words that made him both famous and infamous: “Here I stand, I can do no other.” He refused to retract his teachings without scriptural evidence that would prove his writings wrong. He argued that his writings were based on scripture and unless proven wrong by scripture, he could not recant.
In this portion of his Christmas sermon, he highlights the earth-shattering power of Christ’s incarnation, though revealed through most humble accoutrements of everyday life.
A Sermon by Martin Luther, from his Wartburg Church Postil, 1521–1522
It is written in Haggai 2,6-7, that God says, “I will shake the heavens; and the precious things of all nations shall come.” This is fulfilled today, for the heavens were shaken, that is, the angels in the heavens sang praises to God. And the earth was shaken, that is, the people on the earth were agitated; one journeying to this city, another to that throughout the whole land, as the gospel tells us. It was not a violent, bloody uprising, but rather a peaceable one awakened by God who is the God of peace. . . .
This gospel is so clear that it requires very little explanation, but it should be well considered and taken deeply to heart; and no one will receive more benefit from it than those who, with a calm, quiet heart, banish everything else from their mind, and diligently look into it. It is just as the sun which is reflected in calm water and gives out vigorous warmth, but which cannot be so readily seen nor can it give out such warmth in water that is in roaring and rapid motion.
Therefore, if you would be enlightened and warmed, if you would see the wonders of divine grace and have your heart aglow and enlightened, devout and joyful, go where you can silently meditate and lay hold of this picture deep in your heart, and you will see miracle upon miracle.
First, behold how very ordinary and common things are to us that transpire on earth, and yet how high they are regarded in heaven. On earth it occurs in this [way]: Here is a poor young woman, Mary of Nazareth, not highly esteemed, but of the humblest citizens of the village. No one is conscious of the great wonder she bears, she is silent, keeps her own counsel, and regards herself as the lowliest in the town. She starts out with her husband Joseph; very likely they had no servant, and he had to do the work of master and servant, and she that of mistress and maid. They were therefore obliged to leave their home unoccupied, or commend it to the care of others.
Now they evidently owned an ass upon which Mary rode, although the gospel does not mention it, and it is possible that she went on foot with Joseph. Imagine how she was despised at the inns and stopping places on the way, although worthy to ride in state in a chariot of gold.
There were, no doubt, many wives and daughters of prominent men at that time, who lived in fine apartments and great splendor, while the mother of God takes a journey in mid-winter under most trying circumstances. What distinctions there are in the world! It was more than a day’s journey from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in the land of Judea. They had to journey either by or through Jerusalem, for Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem while Nazareth is north.
The evangelist shows how, when they arrived at Bethlehem, they were the most insignificant and despised . . . until they were obliged to take refuge in a stable, to share with the cattle, lodging, table, bedchamber and bed, while many a wicked man sat at the head in the hotels and was honored as lord. No one noticed or was conscious of what God was doing in that stable. He lets the large houses and costly apartments remain empty, lets their inhabitants eat, drink and be merry; but this comfort and treasure are hidden from them. O, what a dark night this was for Bethlehem, that was not conscious of that glorious light! See how God shows that he utterly disregards what the world is, has or desires; and furthermore, that the world shows how little it knows or notices what God is, has and does.
See, this is the first picture with which Christ puts the world to shame and exposes all it does and knows. It shows that the world’s greatest wisdom is foolishness, her best actions are wrong and her greatest treasures are misfortunes. What had Bethlehem when it did not have Christ? What have they now who at that time had enough? What do Joseph and Mary lack now, although at that time they had no room to sleep comfortably? . . .