Rehlinger spoke during the "Political New Year's Devotion" in the Evangelical City Church of St. Wendel on the biblical phrase "You are a God who sees me" (Gen 16:13), the guiding motto under which the churches have placed the new year.
The biblical story from which the motto is taken is about the slave concubine Hagar, who flees into the desert pregnant to escape oppression by her mistress. "God took care of this slave; she is seen by God as a person, not as a subject without rights," emphasized Rehlinger. This should make us reflect, because "it is not birth that ennobles a person, but their effort for their fellow human beings."
The corona pandemic has shown that no job is insignificant in today's society, from waiters to bus drivers to healthcare workers in hospitals. "Everyone is necessary and must be recognized by us," said Rehlinger, especially the social groups that God sees, but that "we ourselves do not take for granted in the same way."
It is time to show the necessary respect to everyone. This applies especially to rescue workers and people who stand up for others, in light of recent riots on New Year's Eve. "If a poster campaign is necessary due to a lack of respect, we have a backlog to catch up on," lamented Rehlinger.
In general, one must not lose sight of what is still not going well. The annual motto calls on people to challenge themselves, to reconsider their own behavior, including in unpleasant issues such as the differences in the treatment of refugees from various countries of origin.
At the same time, the biblical word also calls on us to have confidence in ourselves, to find solutions for problems that have so far had none. In this sense, the daily text brings us the promise that at least God sees us all, which is already a good thing, said the Prime Minister. "From this certainty, we draw the strength for shaping the future that we urgently need."
This is already happening in many winter campaigns where people take care of others. "Let us be, with our means, the angel who says to Hagar, 'The Lord has seen your misery and heard your cry.' Let us look a little more after those who are alone or living in poverty and those who have not yet been seen," Rehlinger called out to the approximately 200 guests.
The musical accompaniment for the service was provided by the Offenbach Choir under the direction of Cantor emeritus Roland Lissmann, Thomas Layes (organ and grand piano), as well as the 16-year-old violinist Marie Joselle Hendel from Völklingen.
See also: www.evangelisch-in-wnd.de/politische-neujahrsandacht
