Van der Bellen: Strengthening the “we” without pointing to “the others”.

2023-10-31 21:36:11

The Federal President spoke on Reformation Day in the Lutheran City Church in Vienna

Vienna (OTS) – Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen has called for us to focus on what we have in common and what connects us, while strengthening the “we” “without having to point to the others.” “Sometimes a smile is enough, sometimes a quick question about how things are going. Then you find a few things in common and you notice: We are not that different,” said the Federal President in his speech at the Protestant service for Reformation Day on Tuesday evening, October 31st, in the Lutheran City Church in Vienna.

An attitude that strengthens the sense of community is needed not only in the churches and faith communities, not only in one’s own circle of friends and acquaintances, but across these borders, “beyond our own horizon,” said the Federal President, who spoke here of “love for one’s neighbor and Love after neighbor” spoke.

Thanks to the churches for their civil and social commitment

In his speech on Reformation Day, the Federal President thanked the Protestant Church on behalf of all religious communities in Austria for the civil society and social commitment “in words and in writing and in concrete action”, which was “an indispensable source of cohesion in this country”.

At the center of his speech, the Federal President placed the Sermon on the Mount, which is one of the “hearts” of Christianity. Van der Bellen: “I think, as a layman, if we interpret the Sermon on the Mount in a contemporary way, we go beyond the basic principles of the French Revolution to ultimately arrive at the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – as one of the greatest poetic goals of humanity.”
The principles of the Sermon on the Mount, such as “not pointing the finger at others” or the so-called “Golden Rule”, which is what you expect from others, should also be done to them, still apply today, the Federal President explained.

Committed to solidarity

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke “not of the so-called high achievers”, but “of the weak, of the excluded, of those on the margins of society”. With this he emphasizes: “Even they, even those to whom we pay little attention, they are worth the same as everyone else. It is not success that determines a person’s worth, not his wealth, not his health or social status. We are all worth the same. And – that’s why we are obliged to show solidarity.”

However, the prerequisite for solidarity is compassion, the ability to empathize with others, “to take their fears and worries seriously, not to be indifferent, and to help wherever we can,” explained the Federal President.

Bishop Michael Chalupka, Pastor Julia Schnizlein, curator Helmut Tichy and young people from the town church celebrated the concert service with the parish community. You could hear the Ensemble Lutherana of the Lutheran City Church, which performed the Bach cantata “A Mighty Castle is Our God” under the musical direction of Erzsébet Windhager-Gered.