Ash Wednesday – 2025
March 4, 2025
Second Sunday in Lent – 2025
March 13, 2025First Sunday in Lent
WesleyMen Lenten & Easter Devotionals 2025
Gospel Lectionary
Luke 4:1-13 Common English Bible
4 Jesus replied, “It’s written, People won’t live only by bread.”
5 Next the devil led him to a high place and showed him in a single instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 The devil said, “I will give you this whole domain and the glory of all these kingdoms. It’s been entrusted to me and I can give it to anyone I want. 7 Therefore, if you will worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered, “It’s written, You will worship the Lord your God and serve only him.”
9 The devil brought him into Jerusalem and stood him at the highest point of the temple. He said to him, “Since you are God’s Son, throw yourself down from here; 10 for it’s written: He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you 11 and they will take you up in their hands so that you won’t hit your foot on a stone.”
12 Jesus answered, “It’s been said, Don’t test the Lord your God.” 13 After finishing every temptation, the devil departed from him until the next opportunity.
Reflection
The wilderness has many faces. I live in Germany. On February 23rd, we elected our members of parliament. During the election campaign, political politicians of almost all parties wanted to prove that they would put an end to what they called “illegal migration”. Narratives created by a right-wing party were repeated on and on: “Migrants and refugees cause risks to our security!” “We need to increase deportations, at all costs!” Such speeches contribute to hate towards people who look as if they could well be “illegal migrants”. Friends of mine came from Iran around 2017, and in the United Methodist congregation in my neighborhood, we last year received three nurses from India. The Iranians are well integrated, and the nurses were even recruited by the German state, they are by no means “illegal”. Yet my friends from Iran and India repeatedly say: “We are scared”. There is a wilderness of xenophobia, separation and mistrust, which does harm not only to immigrants, but to us all.
Many people on the move literally must go through the wilderness. Right now, refugees fleeing the terrible war in Sudan cross the Sahara Desert to reach the Mediterranean Sea. Some seek refuge in Libya, many are dreaming of a better future in Europe and take risks to die if they can afford to buy a smuggler to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Several routes to the US border in Mexico lead through the wilderness of rain forests, rivers, and areas where violence is a daily reality. Unaccompanied minors continue a dangerous journey after Mom or Dad died, thousands spend years in camps without proper health care and education. UNHCR and NGOs seeking to provide basic support are underfinanced and root causes for forced migration are not properly addressed.
Jesus lived in the wilderness before He publicly proclaimed the Good News of God’s kin-dom to come, which is a realm of love, justice and peace. Jesus withstood the temptation to overcome hunger, powerlessness, and mortality. Later, He opted to live ‘on the move’ and had “no place to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). He was crucified and “suffered outside the city gate” (Hebrews 13:12). Yet Christ is risen and at work in us and in the world, so loved by God. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can withstand the temptation to only focus on our own wellbeing and wealth. Like Jesus, we are called to “worship the Lord your God and serve God only” (Luke 4,8), which at times includes civil disobedience to those who proclaim to have all the power on earth. We put into action that we cannot serve God and wealth (Matthew 6:24). Inspired by God’s love, we accept our vulnerability and live in solidarity with our fellow humans and with God’s creation. Yes, we often find ourselves in the wilderness. Yet we will find Jesus right there and learn from Him to trust in God and to humbly follow Jesus’ example of servanthood, believing that love will overcome fear and justice will prevail.
Let me come back to where I started: I am blessed by my friends who recently migrated to Germany. They teach me to keep hope. Listening to them broadens my narrow horizon. Together, we experience a foretaste of the heavenly banquet, as we share our life stories and our meals. There are oasis in the deserts and places to regain strength in the wilderness. Thanks be to God.
Call to Action
- Join me in this Lenten Season to spend time with people who have been forced to migrate and listen to their stories of pain and hope. Let us tell others what we learn, so that we multiply counter-narratives to overcome xenophobia and racism.
- Withstand with me the temptation to adore the ideology of an unlimited growth in wealth. In this Jubilee Year 2025, the World Methodist Council joins the Campaign: “Turn Debt into Hope”. On https://turndebtintohope.caritas.org/, you are invited to sign a call for debt cancellation and urge decision makers to prioritize people and the planet over mere profit.
Prayer
Merciful God, we worship You, not wealth. Teach us to work for just systems locally and globally, so that “jubilee” is more than an old bible story.
Jesus, we are committed to follow You. Lead us Your way of mercifully sharing bread with those who are hungry and open our eyes to recognize You in the stranger whose rights are neglected.
Breath of Life, Holy Spirit, inspire us, so that we, though weak and weary, join hands with all people of good will. Transform our communities into places of belonging, mutual learning and healing, open for all God’s children. Connect us with one another and with mother earth.
Triune God, Your kin-dom come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, Germany, Geneva Secretary of the World Methodist Council and Ecumenical Officer of The United Methodist Church
