By J. Paula Roderick

About 2 weeks ago, I received a simple request from Methodists for Social Action -. would I be willing to do a reflection for Lent- sharing about how my faith informs and drives my political and social justice work? How do I view my justice work as an expression of my faith? I was daunted by the task: not because I don’t engage in political and social justice actions, I do. But, in my mind, social justice actions often take place outside of church. In the busyness of the days and week, I go to church for prayer and serenity; but more often than not, I organize within progressive groups who are more concerned with action, with creating change. 

Still, I had made this commitment. Lent is “ a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. .. often [by] choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of ourselves for others.” And in that spirit of reflection, how did I want to use these 40 days, what did I want to say about this Lent? 

I didn’t want to write a call to action. There certainly are many causes that need our attention. But to be honest, in this moment, this “double pandemic,” I often find myself stretched thin, overwhelmed, fatigued by too many zoom calls, helping to draft resolutions for various groups, and participating in “car”avan protests. I didn’t want to add even more obligations to an already overburdened community of activists. Then I recalled: a number of years ago - our pastor gave our congregation a challenge- instead of the traditional fast, giving up something of importance, she asked us to “set our intentions” every day. A Lenten season filled with 40 days for peace prayers and actions. 

This Lenten season, I’m setting an intention to start each morning in prayerful reflection, to bring to God in faith the matters that I feel so passionate I give my time to throughout the month. More than the daily prayer that opens my day, I’m talking about being intentional with each group, or issue, or problem that calls me to do justice work. Here’s what my first few days or so look like: 

1) For United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR), as we advocate for justice for Palestinians. God be with us as we are urged to call our Representatives or Senators to sign onto H.R. 2590, the Palestinian Children and Families Act (or introduce a companion bill in the Senate); or to sign onto H. Res 751, Condemning the repressive designation by Israel of six Palestinian human rights and civil society organizations, or to raise awareness and post on social media the families who are losing their homes in Jerusalem, and throughout Palestine, #SaveSheikhJarrar; 

2) For Eyewitness Palestine, as they engage in virtual delegations so that internationals, especially Americans here, can “go and see,” and especially for the delegation to Wadi Foquin, a UMC General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) Advance #3021565; 

3) Praying for my church’s Sowers committee as we come together to name those missions we want to bring to our church’s attention, and in particular, for one of our mission minutes is Refugee One (here in Northern Ill. Conf., it is advance 5000133), this local organization helping resettle families from Afghanistan, that we might recall the plight of the stranger, and lift up prayers for people struggling to rebuild homes in places far from their homeland; 

4) For the work being done by the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines - Midwest, calling for a fair election, to end human rights abuses in the Philippines, and to call on our U. S. Representatives to co-sponsor H.R. 3884, the Philippines Human Rights Act, and in particular praying for the many human rights defenders who have been imprisoned or lost their lives as they fight for dignity, a fair election, and a future with hope; 

5) For the Northern IL. annual conference’s Church and Society meeting soon to plan the social justice resolutions we want to introduce at our annual conference. Praying for wisdom and discernment for all of our members to act with strength, courage, wisdom and love as we go about our business; praying for C and S groups throughout other annual conferences- the need is so great and our resources often seem so limited; and to remember those who are doing advocacy through General Board of Church and Society, for the good of our church as a whole; 

6) For the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, who are in the midst of phone banking to encourage voters to support the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance; 

7) For Faith Without Borders with Pastor Kelvin Sauls as he continues to bring guests to speak to the hot current issues of the day (most recently about Super Bowl Sunday 2022, Black Inclusion and Liberation)(find him on Facebook); 

8) Pray for a World without walls, and all those imprisoned by walls that divide us from our fellows; 

9) To open the Bible to Micah or 1 Corinthians (some of my favorite sources of strength) or turn to World Prayersor Sabeel, and share those prayers with a friend and ask them to join me in prayer and meditation with as much courage and urgency as I have when I call on them to join me in protest. 

“Scripture both inspires us and informs our advocacy. In the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, we hear God’s call for us to do justice (Micah 6:8), to repair brokenness in our communities (Isaiah 58, 61), and to love one another (John 15). The prophets and Jesus consistently warn leaders who would oppress and deny justice to others. And throughout the Bible, God calls us to challenge these unjust leaders and serve as advocates for justice and peace.” I believe that UM calls me, calls us, to advocate for justice and peace- and so many of my UM siblings do. So, I know it won’t be a challenge to fill the 40 days of Lent with prayer offerings - my calendar for March already is filled with ways to “do justice” through board meetings, rallies, get out the vote calls, film debuts. No, the real challenge for me is to slow down and to take a “time away” to ask God, the Higher Power, the Holy Spirit to lead me to the right actions for justice, peace, health, love, to welcome the stranger as my own. I don’t know how this time away will change things on the outside. I am hopeful, prayerful, that I will go about the work of social justice with a renewed commitment and will have more patience, tolerance, wisdom, strength and love. I invite you to join me this Lent - follow me on Twitter @goodlawchi, or create your own precious list of 40 days of prayers. 

You make our collective work possible by your witness for justice every day in your church, community, and Annual Conference. MFSA does not receive any financial support from the United Methodist Church's giving channels. 100% of our budget is funded through your membership dues and your generosity in giving.

J. Paula Roderick is an employment discrimination and civil rights attorney who practices in the Chicagoland area. She is a Steering Committee member of United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR) a member of the Northern Illinois Conference Church and Society, actively involved with Blacks 4 Palestine, and the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and volunteers with a number of social justice groups that work on issues relating to policing, Black youth, and also Palestinian civil rights. Paula received her Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, and Juris Doctorate, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. She was an Eyewitness Palestine (EP) delegate in 2008 and currently is an EP board member.