I had a thought reading the Gospel of today this year that I have never had before reading the text:
What a relief.
What a relief to be in the dessert – or wilderness depending on which translation you choose. I should go. What a relief to be away from all the turmoil that is going on currently in the world.
I could be without the devil tempting me out there of course, but honestly my first thought reading the text this year was that it could not be a lot worse than living here right now.
Are some of you feeling the same way?
It is sad. It is sad that the relationship between the people of the world currently is in such a bad shape making one prefer to escape in any way possible – even unto the dessert, the wilderness.
In the Bible the most important aspect of the dessert or the wilderness is not what we would first think of. Its most important aspect is not that it is places without food and water, places where it is almost impossible to live.
Rather the most important aspect of the dessert and the wilderness according to the Bible is that it is places where God is not present. God is absent.
It is a place where you not only are left alone with no physical nutrition. But more importantly it is a place where there is no spiritual nutrition as well.
With this in mind, I want to encourage all of us as we live in these dark times: Despite the current situation in the world our lives are – in a biblical perspective – not a dessert or a wilderness. Because we still have God.
God is with us. Every day. In prayer. In praise. In songs. In words. In all the visible. And in all the invisible. God dwells within us giving everlasting spiritual nutrition to our urging bodies.
To me this is a comfort. I might not always feel the presence of God within me. Also, I might forget about spiritual nutrition as I surge the world for earthly nutrition.
But God is always there. Somewhere. Hiding with his word until I am ready to hear that whatever turmoil might surround me, whatever dessert- or wilderness-like reality I see before me, God will not hold back any of his love. God will love me – even if part of the dessert or the wilderness has the origin from something I, myself, have done.
We need to hear this more than ever. And I pray for all of us that our eyes may be opened in this time of need enabling us to experience the love of God.
I pray that not only nature will soon bloom in every colour as we welcome spring. May our souls and minds bloom as well. May we in spirit – by Spirit – all bear fruits in multitude.
The world sure can be felt like a dessert or a wilderness currently, but in love let us oppose hatred and inspire one another to do the same. Let it be spring. Throughout the world. Let it be spring. In mind, body, and soul.
Amen
As the remainder of my ‘sermon’ I would like to dedicate some time to special prayers:
I pray for the Ukrainian people who daily fights vigilantly to protect their border. For many years we in the west have believed that borders are not to be moved by force.
There are other and better ways of solving frictions like that – just look at the border between Denmark and Germany and Denmark and Canada.
As we no longer have the insurance of solid borders, I pray that any peace deal negotiated will be able to restore our trust in this as no people anywhere throughout the world is gaining from living in daily fear or oppression.
I pray for the people residing in the Israeli and Palestinian territories. We are happy to see a ceasefire despite it being fragile from time to time.
We pray that the Lord will guide you in every step forward and that you will listen when talked to – by God or by enemy.
Propaganda have filled a lot in this conflict urging people to pick a side. Let us – and let you – always remember that it is not about picking side. It is about peace. That is the first and foremost.
It is about safety for all. Room for all. Homes for all. It is about how to live together side by side.
I pray for the people of Greenland. On Tuesday you will elect new leaders to your parlement. Despite being a small people, many eyes are dwelling on what decisions you make for the future of your part of the Danish Commonwealth.
Will you part with Denmark? Will you find new allies?
From a reconciliation point of view, I am happy that the Danish Government have finally admitted the racist acts that have been enforced upon you. Wounds might not heal, but it will without doubt be of benefit for the people of the future.
Located in the arctic circle your land is appealing to many. I hope that whatever change the future will bring to your country, may it be with the protection of peace for all in mind.
Lastly, I pray for all the people affected by the attack on the freedom of trade. We have not seen anything like this since the depression in the 20’s.
Few of us was alive back then, but many of us remembers stories from parents or grandparents about how tough the times were. Let us not relive those years.
I pray for the weak and vulnerable, poor and powerless throughout the world. When prosperity is limited, you are the first to really know, and when you cry, we all should cry along.
Currently, the thread seems to be on hold, but who knows. Also, we pray for the prime minister to be. May we be led by wisdom until the next election.
Dear Lord,
For that we pray. May the eternal spiritual spring bring peace to our minds and encourage us to fight the growth of desserts and wilderness’.
May our hope be deeply rooted so that we do not loss sight of solutions but instead contribute in whatever way we can to peace. Peace for all.
Oh Lord almighty. Hear our lament. Amen.