Before moving to Ocala and joining Joy Lutheran Church, Paulette and I were members of Bethabara Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, NC.  There are many connections between Moravians and Lutherans, both historical and contemporary (the ELCA and the Moravians have agreed to be in full communion).  The Moravians trace their beginnings to the Czech priest John Huss (1369 – 1415), a hundred year precursor of Martin Luther.  The first explicit connection to Luther occurred when Luther was browsing in the library and discovered a book of Huss’s sermons, but for Huss the connection came a hundred years earlier.

Huss was the Rector of Charles University (still a major university) as well as the Rector of Bethlehem Chapel (both are in Prague).  Huss was greatly influenced by the Englishman John Wycliffe, and like Wycliffe he came to believe that for Christians the ultimate authority was the Bible (and hence not the institutional church).  He was very disturbed by the practice of selling indulgences, and in his very popular services, which were conducted in the Czech language, he offered both bread and wine to the congregation during communion.  He summarized these and other differences from the Church in a tract called “Six Errors” (of the Church), that he tacked to the door of Bethlehem Chapel.  These six errors of the Church were still there to confront Luther a hundred years later.

The church in this time period faced many schisms (once there were even competing Popes); some, such as the conflict with Huss, were generated by the ideas of Wycliffe.  In 1409 Pope Alexander V excommunicated all followers of Wycliffe, including Huss.  In order to help heal these schisms, Pope John XXIII called the Council of Constance in 1414, which lasted until 1418.   Huss was invited to intend and was promised safety under the protection of Sigismund of Hungary, the Head of the Holy Roman Empire.  In 1415 the Council “healed” the rift with Huss by trying and convicting him of heresy.  In his defense he asked where he had violated scriptures; however, his defense was futile, and he was sentenced to be burned at the stake.  Huss may have sensed this outcome, for he had written his will before leaving Prague.

The phrase “Your goose is cooked.” comes from Huss’s execution.  As he lit the pyre, the executioner said, “Now we will cook the goose.”  You see in the Czech language Huss is the word for goose.  In response, Huss uttered the prophetic words, which many interpret as referring to Luther, “Yes, but in a hundred years there will come a swan you can neither roast nor boil.”  Huss continued singing hymns until the end.

The next time you hear “Your goose is cooked,” I hope you will think of and be inspired by Huss – a courageous man of faith.  Read 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 and Psalms 18: 29-36, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Jim

Today’s readings: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I+Corinthians+16%3A13-14&version=NRSV  and  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+18&version=NRSV