Lent 2025 Day 15: Faith, Justice, and Letting Go

Flannel Diaries
Mar 21
3 min read

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

I am a deeply spiritual person. Working in the community, I’ve often kept my religious beliefs to myself to remain unbiased and inclusive. But faith has always been part of me.

If you’re Filipino, being raised Catholic is pretty standard. Nearly 79% of the Philippines is Catholic, a legacy of 333 years of Spanish colonization. Growing up, I felt guilt for everything, which really messes with you as a child. I always wondered why we had to go to church every Sunday when my dad just fell asleep during Mass.

I did everything a “good Catholic” was supposed to do and appreciated the values I was taught. But I also saw the hypocrisy. Catholic hypocrisy is no bueno. So when I hit puberty and came to terms with my queerness, I started questioning my Catholic-ness.

Still, I was curious enough to explore other religions and spiritualities. Believing in an omniscient, omnipotent being was ingrained in me—it wasn’t something I could easily abandon. And even now, I still find meaning in the practices I grew up with, especially Lent.

Fish Fridays? Yeah, I still do that too. One year, I even did a tour of the best fish fries in town. No regrets.

Interconnection: From Easter to Passover to Politics

Easter is the Super Bowl for many Christians—the moment when Zombie Jesus rises, and Christianity is born. But Easter is also about spring, renewal, and the harvest.

Pagans celebrated the equinox, a time when light and dark were equal before the days grew longer. Jesus was Jewish, so the Last Supper was actually a Passover meal.

Everything is interconnected. Yet, we often act as if we have no impact on each other. We can’t pretend we’re separate when our state and local governments are already warning us about the trickle-down effects of federal policies.

I still pray. I pray a lot.

I pray for the safety and well-being of my friends and family. I pray for the earth to heal. I pray that we all will be okay during this hostile government takeover. I pray that God gives me strength and clarity to be my best self every day. I pray for justice and peace for those who have been lied to and betrayed. I pray for my ancestors.

A Prayer for Today

Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Prayer: Lord, when I open my eyes each day, help me to feel Your presence. Help me to keep in step with Your Spirit and be counseled by Your word. My heart aches, and I am worn out from crying. Please help me rise out of my hurt and sorrow. Amen.

Faith in Action: A Call to Justice

My faith is not separate from my work—it fuels it.

I believe if Jesus were alive today, he’d be a social justice warrior. When the work gets hard and exhausting, I return to Micah 6:8: “And what does the Lord require of you? To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

When life feels heavy, I remind myself to trust the process.

🔹 We cannot control everything.

🔹 We cannot control other people.

🔹 We can only control ourselves and our actions.

And sometimes, the best thing we can do is let go and trust.