This season we are focusing on justice as an aspect of spiritual formation and we believe Lent to be the perfect season to explore this connection. Using A Just Passion: A Six-Week Lenten Journey, and the lectionary, we will look at various aspects of justice, its importance to God and why the modern church has often regrettably failed to live out God’s call to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord.”

This week, Ruth and Tina are joined by Sheila Wise Rowe to discuss racial trauma and collective healing. What exactly is racial trauma and what is the long term impact of this trauma on people of color? How can the church play a part in the healing of this trauma? And why is this healing work a part of justice work? The three women also look at the lectionary reading this week from John, the story of the Samaritan woman.

Lectionary scripture for this week:

Exodus 17:1-7

Psalm 95

Romans 5:1-11

John 4:5-42

Mentioned in this episode:

Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience by Sheila Wise Rowe

Young, Gifted, and Black: A Journey of Lament and Celebration by Sheila Wise Rowe

First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament

Sheila Wise Rowe is a truth-teller who is passionate about matters of faith and emotional healing. She advocates for the dignity, rights, and healing of abuse and racial trauma survivors, and racial conciliation.  In 2020 Sheila authored the award-winning book, Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience released by InterVarsity Press (IVP), and recently Young, Gifted, and Black: A Journey of Lament and Celebration. Sheila lives in Massachusetts with Nicholas, her husband of 31 years and near their adult children; a daughter, a son and a daughter-in-law. 

Journey with us this Lent! Our season is inspired by A Just Passion: A Six-Week Lenten Journey, and many of our guests are contributors to this resource. 

Music Credit:

Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist

A Prayer for Healing from Lent Music in Solitude

Support the podcast! This season, in addition to receiving overflow conversation from the episode, patrons at all levels will receive weekly reflection questions intended to help them journey through Lent with both the podcast and the resource A Just Passion! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!