Rockwell Mosaic
The “Golden Rule” mosaic created by Norman Rockwell was presented to the United Nations NYC Headquarters in 1985. The life-size image composed of more than 23,000 pieces supports the UN’s humanitarian aims and idea of a common humanity. (Image Courtesy of Church & Society)
General Board of Church and Society | July 25, 2025
The acronym DC has been making its way into my world this summer in more ways than one. Recently, the release of the movie Superman, based in the DC Comics universe, has been gaining popularity. Secondly, my internship with GBCS, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., has allowed me to practically enter the political DC world in another way.
According to DC Comics, Superman is an alien from the planet Krypton, or an immigrant. His mission? To do all the good he can. The villain of the story, Lex Luthor, convinces the public that Superman, who was raised by two human parents, must be eliminated because he is a foreigner and is evil.
At the end of the film, Superman confronts Lex with a beautiful monologue in which Superman says:
“That’s where you are wrong about me. I am just as human as anyone else. I love, I get scared, and despite not knowing what to do, I put one foot in front of the other and I try to make the best choices I can. I screw up all the time, but that is being human and that is my greatest strength.”
After seeing the film, I keep asking myself, how do I stay committed to my humanity and the humanity of others in the face of injustice?
Since being in Washington D.C. at the start of June, I have witnessed some difficult headlines, such as the bombing of Iran, inhumane ICE raids, the passing of the big ‘beautiful’ bill, and many heartbreaking Supreme Court decisions. Truthfully, it has been hard to stay grounded in my faith.
Living as a committed Christian and United Methodist, it is helpful to have the United Methodist Social Principles as a guidepost on how to cope and respond to the social ills and injustices of our day.
In the Preamble of our Social Principles, it states:
“From the beginning, God called us into covenant, bound with God, with one another, and with God’s wonderfully diverse creation. God called us, further, to live lovingly in those relationships and to be stewards of God’s created world, to tend God’s garden. As we do our part in caring for creation, we allow all other parts of creation to fulfill their distinctive roles in the covenantal relationship with God (Gen. 2:7–15).”
Even though Superman is a fictional character, he reminds me of the power of my own humanity. As Superman says, “it is super punk rock” to see the beauty in every human being I encounter, despite the evils that I have witnessed. And most importantly, Superman reminds me that the spirit of the living God is still moving among us.
On June 30, I witnessed at the U.S. Capitol a Moral Monday Action Rally, in which faith leaders spoke up and took a stand against the big “beautiful” bill. This bill, which passed by Congress and signed by President Trump on July 4th, will lead to millions of senior citizens, children, poor working families and disabled people losing their Medicaid healthcare and food benefits from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).
The prayer demonstration also led to the arrest of fifteen clergy. One pastor in particular was arrested by a young police officer with shaky hands who was visibly distressed. The pastor offered assurances to the officer, telling him that he was doing a fine job, even as the pastor was being arrested.
Recognizing the humanity of one another is justice work. We don’t always have to come with prepared answers to complex situations, but we must keep showing up because when we show up with love, we are doing the work of God.
God is moving and breathing in our world even when it does not seem like it. God chose to live with us in our humanity through Christ.
May we be like Christ and remain gentle despite the evils that persist.
May we be like Superman and see the beauty of every single person we encounter.
And may we all lean into our greatest superpower, our shared humanity.
Odyssey Heredia
Photo Courtesy of Church and Society
Odyssey Heredia is the 2025 Church and Society Ethnic Young Adult Chaplain and Theology Intern. A proud pastor’s kid, her home church is the Del Valle United Methodist Church in Mesquite, New Mexico. Read more about the author.