It´s fascinating to see, how fast everything is changing around us. Suddenly the daily news really does come up with new stories and it´s as if the reporters can´t keep up with the avalanche of happenings around the globe. Where yesterday the world was full of denialists, it´s full of apocalyptic prophets and even demagogues and other tricksters now.   

Reading on the Pope Leo´s preparation to deal with the German virus centuries back, You get a feel for how unprepared the curial bureaucracy was for this monk´s story from across the Alps. At first there are attempts to just carry on as usual – boar hunting in the mountains around his palace in Magliana. Even on the German side, You find patterns similar with those of today if You look at elector Frederick III (Elector of Saxony) sitting out this political dilemma with delaying tactics – and not letting the pope or emperor get to him. After all, he did not only have geography going for him.¹  His little town Wittenberg really was at the end of the world and he was fighting for the right cause – that of the true gospel.

When the process against the little Augustinian monk gets going seriously early in January 1520, it continues to be complicated. You have cautious theologians like cardinal Cajetan on the one side, working on a detailed and nuanced approach, whereas the professor Dr. Eck was more of the rabid sort – seeking to just score points for his academic career and never letting an opportunity go by to take a cheap shot at his adversary. Some things never change. On the other side, You have the young Dr. Martin Luther firing on all cylinders and giving off one broadside against the establishment after the other:  

1. August: To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation 

2. October: On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church 

3. November: On the Freedom of a Christian 

In the end, the whole issue goes on for more than a year, Luther gets threatened with excommunication (serious stuff!), summoned to Rome (He doesn´t go!)  and ends up being banned officially with the papal bull: Exsurge Domine! in the coming year – after he appears in Worms for the imperial diet with emperor Charles V and his court in attendance and fails to recant and demur obediently. Instead he confesses:  

Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen.2 

Well, that dramatic introduction leads to the involuntary incarceration of the reformer on the Wartburg – safe and sound, but isolated and very much in exile. An exemplary case of “social distancing” especially if You consider, how productively he gets engaged even up there on his island of Patmos. There was no more stopping him now – the demon had escaped the bottle, the virus was out and noboday was going to stop it now. Thank God – the gospel was again on the pedestal and shining bright into the lands!  

Here´s a copy for printing