It is March 9, 1522. A white pigeon lands on the edge of the open window at the top of the church. It is surprisingly full of people from various classes, mostly peasants. This is unprecedented for the main city church of Wittenberg. There is no empty seat left; some people are even standing. They are here to meet their hero, the famous Prof. Luther, the brave man who stood up against the Pope, and the inspiration for the recent uprisings in the region.
The pigeon witnesses Luther delivering a passionate sermon, the first of a series that will be remembered in history as Invocavit Sermons. The bird does not understand the words, but it does not have to either. It is just a messenger, and its job is to pass on the message.
“There must also be love, and through love, we must do unto one another as God has done unto us through faith.”
Luther continues the sermon, but his voice gradually fades away. The pigeon can still hear the words but no longer in Luther’s voice! It is as if the rest of his speech is mysteriously dubbed with a female voice!
“For without love, faith is nothing,” the female voice continues, “as St. Paul says in Corinthians 2:1, If I could speak with the tongues of angels, and of the highest things in faith, and have not love, I am nothing.”
The pigeon flies away, up in the sky where it can see the entire church. Although far away from Luther, it still can hear his sermon but in the female voice!
“And here, dear friends, have you not grievously failed? I see no signs of love among you, and I observe that you have not been grateful to God for His rich gifts and treasures.”
As it listens to the voice, it continues to fly over wheat farms, clamorous rivers, and large-leaved lime trees until it arrives at the Monastery of Marienthron.
“I notice that you have a great deal to say of the doctrine which is preached to you, of faith and of love. This is not surprising; an ass can almost intone the lessons, and why should you not be able to repeat the doctrines and formulas?”
The flying pigeon descends and approaches a couple of nuns who have gathered in the yard. It has finally found the owner of the mysterious voice that is dubbing Luther’s speech. She is Hanna, one of the nuns who is reading Luther’s sermon out loud from a paper. The bird slows down and zooms into Katharina von Bora, who holds one of the papers near her heart while intently listening to Hanna. When her sister reads the word ‘love’, Katharina’s eyes pop out from happiness, hugging the paper tightly.
The pigeon flies away again, but no matter how far it goes, it still can hear Hanna reading the sermons.
“Dear friends, the kingdom of God, and we are that kingdom, consists not in speech or in words, but in deeds, in works and exercises. God does not want hearers and repeaters of words, but doers and followers who exercise themselves in the faith that worketh by love. For a faith without love is not enough rather it is not faith at all, but a counterfeit of faith.”
By now the flying pigeon is approaching a violent farmer who looks like Otto. When Hanna’s voice reads the word ‘love’, the pigeon sits on top of the digging fork that the farmer holds to be used as a weapon. The attitude entirely changed, he slowly lowers the fork until there is no more fight left in him; he cannot hold it anymore. The fork’s points hit the ground, and the pigeon flies away.
The peasant, transformed by the touch of love, watches his messenger fly back to the city church in Wittenberg.
A peasant in the church intently listens to Luther’s sermon. A few drops of tears flow down his face. He hears Luther giving the rest of the speech—in his own voice.
“And I heartily wish it would be abolished everywhere and only the evangelical mass for all the people be retained. Yet, Christian love should not employ harshness here nor force the matter.”
Luther scans the crowd with disappointment. He notices Andreas Karlstadt and Thomas Müntzer, his two allies in reformation, in the back of the church, but his gaze quickly passes over them. He finally sees Pfaffinger in the crowd and makes eye contact with him instead. Luther remembers what is expected from him to say. Although he is somewhat hesitant at first, he decides to comply when Pfaffinger insists with his firm look. Taking his eyes off him, Luther takes a deep breath and continues the sermon. However, he now sounds less sincere and looks more like he is acting.
“Do you know what the Devil thinks when he sees men use violence to propagate the gospel? He sits with folded arms behind the fire of hell, and says with malignant looks and frightful grin: ‘Ah, how wise these madmen are to play my game! Let them go on; I shall reap the benefit. I delight in it.’ But when he sees the Word running and contending alone on the battlefield, then he shudders and shakes for fear.”
Thomas cannot take it anymore and storms out of the church. Andreas runs after him.
“Thomas! Thomas!” Andreas calls.
Ignoring him, Thomas exits the church.
Andreas eventually reaches over, and pushes him back, grabbing by the back of his clothes.
“What?!” Thomas yells.
“We can’t leave him now.”
“You can’t. But I can.”
That offends Andreas a bit.
Thomas regrets that. “I’m going north,” he says with a friendlier tone.
“So, you’re escaping.”
Now, Thomas is the one who is offended. “From what?” he asks. “Do you honestly think I might have any fear of death? I, Thomas! Do you have any doubt that I would happily sacrifice my life for Luther, if he wasn’t sided with Frederick?”
“We should stay here and support him. Luther needs us. The reformation needs us.”
“Yes, it does. It does indeed. But, Luther is not the reformation.”
“Well, he started it,” Andreas says.
That pushes Thomas over the edge. “The Protestant reformation was started long before Luther was even born,” he continues with an irritated tone, “with the blood of martyrs like Jan Hus who was burnt alive but didn’t remain silent. And I’m not gonna stay silent today either, letting their blood go to waste.”
“How? By shedding more blood? Is that your reformation?”
While sneering, Thomas takes a disappointed look at his colleague. He does not say a word for a few moments, just staring. He finally continues when Andreas gulps. “A true reformation takes the power from the hands of princes and the Pope and gives it back to common people. Those on top will use everything in their power for that not to happen, everything. Of course, there will be blood. One would be a child for thinking otherwise.”
Thomas and Andreas hug goodbye after their heated argument. Neither of the friends could convince the other. Thomas separates himself, touches Andreas on the shoulder, and leaves.
“Where in the north?” Andreas asks.
“Allstedt,” he responds while walking away. “Be alert, brother. News will come from Allstedt soon.”
Andreas worryingly watches him disappear in the dark.
A few days later, the city church of Wittenberg is empty, except for Pfaffinger and Luther. Luther is sitting on the front bench, where the sermon’s audience usually sits, and Pfaffinger is the one who stands in front of him, arms folded.
“His majesty,” Pfaffinger says, “Prince Frederick III, sends his warmest gratitude for your powerful sermons. Commoners can again enjoy peace in Wittenberg, free of opportunistic riots. Your powerful words are bringing back everyday, misguided people into the way of the truth.”
“That is the power of love, and faith in Jesus Christ.”
“Yeah, sure. Anyway, my lord wanted to reassure you of his majesty’s support of your church. If the church needs anything—”
Extending his arm, Luther gives him a book.
“What is that?” Pfaffinger takes the book and weighs it.
“We should publish and distribute this translation of the Bible. A Bible in plain German for plain German people. Nothing is more powerful than the words of the Lord himself. Peace and love will flourish wherever his words are spread.”
“The whole Bible in German!”
“As bad as it was, hiding in Wartburg castle, offered me the luxury of time.”
Flashback to the year 1522. Luther, sitting behind a modest desk in Wartburg Castle, translates the Bible. The crickets’ inharmonic orchestra plays a symphony of suspense. Something is about to happen…