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Messages of Hope
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Affair of the Sausages
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On the first Sunday of Lent (1522) an act of civil and religious disobedience took place in Zurich that was to have a profound impact on the church.
A printer was working with a team of people on a new publication of St Paul’s writings. In order to refresh his 12 tired workers, the printer served two smoked sausages. Not particularly remarkable to us, but the public breaking of the Lenten fast by eating meat caused a scandal. It flouted both medieval piety and public authority. The Zurich Town Council arrested the printer.
Ulrich Zwingli, the evangelical preacher who held the eminent post of people’s priest in
Zurich, could have smoothed things out. Instead, he made a public issue out of the incident by preaching a sermon concerning choice and liberty respecting food, and later published it as a pamphlet for wider distribution. He argued that Christians are free to fast or not to fast because the Bible does not prohibit the eating of meat during Lent. He challenged teachings of the church, and his actions defied the Church’s authority. He urged people to rely solely on the authority of the Bible.
Thus, through civil and religious disobedience, the Swiss Reformation was born. The Uniting Church in Australia continues the tradition of the Reformed Churches.
(www.sa.uca.org.au)
So come and join us for breakfast in Holy Week this year 2010. Details on the Events Page. |
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