October 31 is not only World Savings Day and Halloween, but also Reformation Day – a day of remembrance for Protestant Christians. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, himself a Protestant, gave a speech on the occasion in the Lutheran city church in Vienna. In it he called for compassion.
Empathy is a quality that cannot be taken for granted. According to Biblical tradition, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus did not speak ‘of the so-called high achievers’, but ‘of the weak, of the excluded, of those on the margins of society.’ The Federal President was invited as a speaker by the Lutheran City Church. Instead of speaking from the pulpit as planned, he spoke at eye level with those present.
Van der Bellen thanked the Protestant church community on behalf of all religious communities in Austria. Civil society and social engagement are “an essential source of cohesion in this country.” Working on the development of society combines politics and religion.
“Success does not determine a person’s worth”
In the reading, at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew, the politician stated: “It is not success that determines a person’s worth, not his wealth, not his health or social position. We are all worth the same.” Therefore, every human being is obliged to show solidarity, and empathy is a prerequisite for interpersonal relationships.
The Federal President emphasized that help is sometimes very simple. What unites us should not only be emphasized in the churches and religious communities or in our own circle of friends and acquaintances, ‘but beyond these borders, beyond our own horizons.’ The mass took place on Tuesday evening in the Lutheran City Church in Vienna. .
background
Reformation Day commemorates the beginning of the Reformation of the Church by Martin Luther in 1517. According to tradition, on the evening before All Saints’ Day, Luther nailed 95 theses in Latin on indulgences and penance to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. . Above all, the theologian challenged the prevailing view that it was possible to forgive sins through monetary payments. This has already happened through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
