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Link to share: https://hanglberger-manfred.de/en-sermon-of-the-devil.htm
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Carnival sermon of the "devil"
Before reading the Gospel: Before I begin with the Gospel, I would like to announce right away that this Gospel of today is too difficult for me, so I will - forbiddenly - let someone else preach about it: namely, the devil himself.
Gospel: Luke 6:31-36 Commandment to love one's enemies, "God is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked."
In those days Jesus said: Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit (is) that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful.
Sermon: (After reading the Gospel, the priest turns and puts on the devil's skirt and puts on the horned mask that the sacristan has ready).
You dear - oh no - you evil people! Are you believers? Do you believe in me too? In any case, for many centuries most Christians believed in me more than in my Creator and former Lord. The belief in evil, in revenge and in fear was greater for most than the belief in love and goodness.
It's sad when you're less and less noticed and taken seriously, like me. But in this case my creator and former boss isn't much better off either. Some of these enlightened and seven-wise people have even written me off completely and claim that I don't even exist. Even some little priests, who consider themselves modern and up-to-date, do not take note of me any more.
But you know, you evil people, thatīs not what upsets me the most: Whether you are afraid of me or not, whether you believe in me or not. What excites me the most is today's Gospel that was read to you earlier. I would have liked to have read it to you myself. Because today's gospel, you might only understand it correctly if the devil himself would read it to you. And that would have to be something with the devil if you really understood this gospel.
But of course, as the devil, I have no interest in proclaiming a Good News, a Gospel to you, no - I just want to confuse you a bit. I am the old Diabolos, the confuser which confounds people.
The dangerous thing about my job is that when you confuse people a bit, some of them suddenly start to think for themselves and come up with their own thoughts in an unconventional and untraditional way. And they often gain a self-confidence and independence which is already completely disgusting to me. I would rather read out a gospel that only whispers sweetly and nobody unsettles, then you can spare people their own thinking, then you can more easily take them for fools and dominate them in the long run.
But again back to the devilishly beautiful gospel of today: This is not only for you, but also for me personally a very special gospel. Because I am the enemy, the adversary, the opponent of my Creator and former Lord. And it may be that this gospel is not only valid for you evil people, but also for HIM, because it says: HE is kind even to the ungrateful and evil. That means to me. I am the wicked and ungrateful one.
And they have declared me not only an enemy and adversary of HIM, but also of you. Then you humans must also be kind to me, the evil one. Will you be able to do that? I don't believe it. Why? Because I believe that you are often deceitful, mendacious and selfish. And that you have no interest in understanding difficult people, but are always quick to condemn and demonize, to badmouth and slander. And so you do me all the honor, because in this way you show that you are more like me and not like your Creator and Lord.
Thanks be to God - oh excuse me - thanks to the devil that you don't believe that what is written here is possible anyway. Because otherwise I wouldn't have to be the devil anymore. But even if you don't believe that what is written in the Gospel today is possible: I SOMETIMES BELIEVE IN IT!
Why? - Because it is my only chance that someone will also be kind to me. Sometimes I believe in it, even if I don't know how it will work. But I believe that there will be some way, even if you can't see it today; how it should work, what is written there, namely: BE KIND EVEN TO THE WICKED AND UNGRATEFUL.
Now I don't know who can confuse, unsettle and confound people better, me the devil or this Jesus. No, itīs a cross with this Jesus, he really competes with me. . I will soon become superfluous as a confuser of the people. But to this I really cannot say: "Amen", "so be it"!
Intercessions:
God, Father and Mother of all people, before you we are all sisters and brothers, so we ask you:
1. Help us to overcome the division of our fellow human beings into "good" and "evil," into friends and enemies, so that without prejudice we may strive to better understand even difficult people.
2. Save us from devaluing and demonizing those people whose behavior is burdensome and incomprehensible to us.
3) Help us not to expect more understanding, mercy and helpfulness from our fellow human beings than we are willing to give ourselves.
4) Accompany and strengthen us on the path of deeper understanding, so that we do not become emotionally hardened in the face of disappointment and injuries at the hands of our fellow human beings.
5. Help us to recognize where we make life difficult for others or are unjust, so that we may better understand aggressive reactions and make our contribution to reconciliation and peace.
6. Give us your Spirit so that we may make progress in recognizing the psychological background of the aggressiveness and ingratitude of difficult fellow human beings and learn to protect ourselves from them in the right way.
For you, O God, are the merciful Father of all people, but you also confront us with the challenges of community life. Teach us - filled with your Spirit - to live in peace with people of all nations and religions on our earth. Amen.
Manfred Hanglberger (www.hanglberger-manfred.de)
Link to share: https://hanglberger-manfred.de/en-sermon-of-the-devil.htm
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