Lent 2025 Day 22

Desmond Tutu, Bishop and Human Rights Activist
Isaiah 58:6-12 | Luke 13:18-21

Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1931–2021) was a South African Anglican bishop, theologian, and human rights activist who became one of the most powerful voices for justice and reconciliation in the fight against apartheid. His faith was deeply rooted in the conviction that the Gospel calls not only for personal salvation but for the transformation of society. Tutu’s work embodied the prophetic call of Isaiah 58:6-12, where God declares that true fasting is not about ritual, but about justice—breaking oppression, feeding the hungry, and repairing the breaches in the world.

Tutu was born in Klerksdorp, South Africa, and originally planned to become a teacher. However, after witnessing the brutal realities of apartheid, he chose to pursue ordained ministry, believing that faith must be an active force for liberation. As bishop and later as Archbishop of Cape Town, he became an outspoken critic of the apartheid government, using his pulpit to demand justice and reconciliation. He believed that the church must be deeply engaged in the work of justice, declaring, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

His work aligns with Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom of God in Luke 13:18-21, where the smallest seed grows into something expansive, offering shelter and sustenance. Tutu understood justice not as an immediate, sweeping change but as a persistent, faithful act—small seeds of love, courage, and resistance sown daily. He was instrumental in leading peaceful protests, calling for sanctions against the apartheid regime, and later, presiding over the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which sought healing for a wounded nation. His unwavering hope reflected his belief that even in the darkest times, God’s justice is at work, growing like a mustard seed into something life-giving.

Lent is traditionally a time of fasting, a practice rooted in self-examination and spiritual discipline. Many choose to give up certain foods or habits as a way of drawing closer to God, mirroring Jesus’ time of fasting in the wilderness. However, Isaiah 58 redefines fasting as more than personal sacrifice—it is about loosening the bonds of injustice, sharing bread with the hungry, and building a more just world. Tutu’s life embodied this understanding of fasting, showing that true devotion is not only about what we abstain from, but what we commit ourselves to. Fasting from injustice, from silence in the face of oppression, from apathy—this is the fast God desires.

Lent is a time when we are called to examine whether our faith is simply about personal piety or if it extends to the work of justice. Tutu reminds us that the Gospel cannot be separated from the call to liberation. Like the mustard seed, justice may start small, but when nurtured, it transforms the world. Isaiah calls us to a fast that is more than abstaining—it is action, generosity, and repair. Tutu’s life shows us what this looks like in practice.

Reflection:

• How does Isaiah 58 challenge your understanding of fasting and faith? 
• Where are the mustard seeds of justice that you are called to plant in your own community? 
• How does Desmond Tutu’s life encourage you to be more engaged in the work of reconciliation and justice? 
• What might it look like to practice a fast that loosens the bonds of injustice? 

Breath Prayer: Inhale: Your Kingdom is growing… Exhale: …Let me be part of it.

May this Lenten season call us to a faith that moves beyond words into action, trusting that even the smallest acts of justice can grow into the life-giving work of God’s kingdom.

Amen.