At St James Church our theme this Lent is Sorrow, Solidarity and Hope. This week we are beginning to look at what solidarity
means for us. I first came across the word associated with Solidarność, the Polish trade union led by Lech Wałęsa. When I was growing up the union was frequently in the news because of its civil resistance to the communist regime and its role in the negotiations that led to the 1989 elections. The outcome was the election of a Solidarity-led coalition government which led Poland’s transition from communism to democracy.
At the same time, elsewhere in Eastern Europe, there were more civil rights movements challenging communist regimes. In Leipzig, the second city of East Germany, a prayer service dedicated to peace was held each Monday at 5pm in St Nicholas Church for over seven years. This became the focal point of the candle-lit, non-violent peace march that took place on October 9, 1989, precipitating events which ultimately led to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Solidarity is an acknowledgement of shared interests, values and sympathies; those ties in a society that bind people together. During the Troubles, despite the divisions, the events in Eastern Europe inspired churches across Ireland to persist in praying for peace. In 1996 many Christians joined their fellow citizens in peace rallies in cities north and south, calling for a ceasefire. I was one of those marching for peace – combining civil resistance with prayer. I still believe it was a powerful combination and had an influence on the negotiations which culminated in the Good Friday Agreement.
As we approach Good Friday this year, it’s helpful to remind ourselves that prayer can bring about powerful change. When we pray in solidarity with others, amazing things can happen. Change may not happen instantly but little by little things begin to shift. From these small beginnings, momentum will build and lead to something significant. Knowing this motivates me to keep meeting with others to pray for the needs of the world. You can join in too – we meet every weekday on Zoom.
In Romans, the apostle Paul encourages the church to “always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” The writer of Hebrews says, “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The Day is approaching when we will see the very things we are praying for come to pass. Won’t that be a great day of celebration! In the meantime, lets continue to stand and pray in solidarity with others, doing what we can regarding the needs we see before us. Be encouraged by the small changes that are happening and remind each other of how God is answering our prayers. Together in prayer we can and will make a difference.
