.
City of shit, Wittenberg. Miserable, poor, mudflat. An unhealthy climate and rugged, with no vineyards or orchards, a cold beer and smoky. What's in Wittenberg, if you take the castle, the church and the university? Dirty alleys, streets full of mud, a population of traders barbara beer and junk dealers.
I sit in the courtyard university with these thoughts that fill my head, eating a freshly baked pretzel. The turnaround in her hands to cool it, as I observe the student camp that characterizes this time of day. Focaccia, soups, colleagues take advantage of the warm sun and outdoor dining until the next lesson. Different accents, many of us come from neighboring principalities, but also from Holland, Denmark, Sweden: the offspring of half the world flock here to listen to the voice of the Master.
Martin Luther, his fame has flown on the wings of the wind, even on the presses of the printers that have made this place famous, until a couple of years ago, forgotten by God and men.
events ... fall events. No one had ever heard of Wittenberg and now there's more and more, more and more young people, because who wants to join the company must stay here, the most important in the quagmire of all Christendom. And maybe that's true here is churning out the bread that engage the teeth of the Pope A new generation of doctors and theologians who will free the world from the clutches of corrupt Rome.
Here he puts forward a few years older than me, pointed beard, thin and hollow as only the prophets can be:
Melanchthon, the pillar of classical wisdom that Prince Frederick has chosen to associate with Luther to give prestige to the university. The His lectures were brilliant, alternative quotations from Aristotle to the scriptures that can read in Hebrew, as attingesse from an inexhaustible well of knowledge. At his side, the rector, Karlstadt, the upright, park in dress, well worn in a few years more. Behind Amsdorf Günther Franz and his faithful, like puppies on a leash tied to invisible. Just nod.
Karlstadt and Melanchthon
discuss walking. Recently, it happens often. It takes a few sentences, scraps of Latin at times, but the issue remains unclear. Along the walls of the university's curiosity grows as a vine: the minds of young people yearn for new issues on which testing teeth cows.
They sit on a step in front of me, across the courtyard. With feigned indifference knots of students taking shape all around. The voice reaches me ephebic of Melanchthon. So winning in the courtroom as shrill out here.
- ... and you should be convinced once and for all, my good
Karlstadt, there are clear words of the Apostle: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been from God, then those who oppose the authority opposes the order established by God. " This St Paul writes in Romans. I decide to get up and join with other viewers, just as
Karlstadt replies.
- It is ridiculous to think that Christian for which, in the words of St. Paul, "the law is dead," the moral law given by God to men is to obey blindly unjust laws often made by men! Christ says: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's." The Jews used the currency of Caesar recognizing the authority of Rome. So it was fitting that also accept all those obligations which do not affect civil and religious spheres. In this way, Christ with his words distinguishes the political from the religious and accepts the function of civil authority, but only if God does not overlap, which does not mix with him when in fact the place of God does not promote more than the common good, but enslaves man. Remember the Gospel of Luke: "You shall worship the Lord thy God, and serve him alone" ...
The air became heavier, ears and eyes jumping from side to side. It consists of an arena, a half-circle of students, as if someone had marked with chalk the field of battle. Günther standing, silent, considering which side will agree to take sides.
Amsdorf has already chosen her: in the middle.
Melanchthon shakes his head and narrows his eyes a hint of a smile magnanimous. Always show the attitude of a father explaining to his son how things are. As if its your mind understood, retain, having already figured out all that you will understand by the end of your days.
Watch welcomed the audience, he is faced with the new Christians. Measure words, weighing on scales, the first to react.
- You have to dig deeper, Karlstadt, do not stop at the surface. The sense of "Render unto Caesar 'is very different ... Christ makes a distinction between the two areas, the civil authority and God, it's true. But it is precisely because each of the two receives what it deserves, since the two forms of authority are mirrored. This is the will of the Lord. St. Paul himself has explained the concept. He says, "you have to pay taxes, because those who engage in this task are servants of God Give to each what is due: to whom the tribute, the tribute to those charges and taxes, to whom the fear, fear, to those who respect, respect. " Also, my good friend, if the faithful behave honestly have nothing to fear from the authorities, indeed, they will be praised. Those who does evil deeds, be afraid, because if the ruler takes the sword there is a reason: he is serving God per punire giustamente chi opera il male.
Carlostadio , lento, corrucciato: - Ma chi punirà il sovrano che non opera onestamente?
Melantone, sicuro: - «Non fatevi giustizia da voi stessi, carissimi, ma lasciate fare all’ira divina». Il Signore dice: «A me la vendetta, sono io che ricambierò». L’autorità ingiusta è punita da Dio, Carlostadio. Dio l’ha posta sulla terra, Dio può distruggerla. Non spetta a noi contrapporci a essa. E del resto, quali parole più limpide di quelle dell’apostolo: «Benedite coloro che vi perseguitano»?
Carlostadio: - Certo, Melantone, certo. Non dico che non dobbiamo amare even our enemies, but will agree with me that we should at least beware of those who sat on the chair of Moses, tightening the kingdom of heaven in men face ...
Padrebuono Melanchthon: - False prophets, my good Karlstadt, those are the false prophets ... And the world is full of them. Even here, in this study place graced by the Lord ... Why is one of the scholars who lurks the arrogance, the presumption of mouthing the words to the Lord to raise his personal fame. But he told us: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and cancel the intelligence of the intelligent." We serve God and strive for the true faith against the secular corruption. Do not forget, Karlstadt.
A low blow, unfair. A veil of weakness, the shadow of the war that eats, rests on the figure of the rector. It seems confused, unconvinced, but blames the wound. Melanchthon is standing: he suggested the doubt, we have to give the coup de grace.
At that moment a voice rises from the audience. A firm voice, clear, which may not belong to a student.
- "Beware of men, that they hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and ye shall be brought in front of their governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles ..." Maybe that our Master
Luther 
afraid to report the presence of the to be judged by the courts? His testimony is not enough to understand? What Luther is the cry that rises from the fields and mines, against those who have made havoc of the true faith: "He that cometh from above is above all, but who comes from the earth, belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth. " Luther showed us the way: the authority of men opposed to witness the true Christian has a duty to deal with it.
See the face of someone who has just spoken. The look is even more hard and firm words. Do not ever turns away from Melanchthon.
Melanchthon. Squint swallowing anger, surprise. Someone has stolen the word. Two strokes. Call the class Lutero. Si deve andare.
Silenzio e tensione si sciolgono nel brusio degli studenti, impressionati dalla disputa, e nelle frasi di circostanza di Amsdorf.
Tutti fluiscono verso il fondo del cortile. Melantone non si muove, gli occhi, piantati su chi gli ha strappato una vittoria certa. Si fronteggiano a distanza, finché qualcuno non prende il professore sotto braccio per accompagnarlo all’aula.
Prima di andare, il tono della voce è una promessa: - Avremo occasione di parlare ancora. Sicuramente.
Nel corridoio affollato che precede l’aula dove ci attende il sommo Lutero, affianco il mio amico Martin Borrhaus, che tutti chiamiamo Cellario, anche lui eccitato dall’evento.
A voce bassa: - Hai visto la faccia di Melantone? Messer Linguatagliente lo ha toccato. Sai chi è?
- Si chiama Müntzer.
Thomas Müntzer . Viene da Stolberg.
