Remember Those in Prison
So the people of the valley sent a message up the hill, asking for the buried treasure, tons of gold for which they’d kill. Came an answer from the kingdom “with our brothers we will share all the secrets of our mountain, all the riches buried there.”
“Remember Jesus of Nazareth, staggering on broken feet out of the tomb toward the Resurrection, bearing on his body the proud insignia of the defeat which is victory, the magnificent defeat of the human soul at the hands of God.”
– Frederick Buechner, The Magnificent Defeat
Easter morning service was exhilarating and joyous – rousing music, a reading of the familiar but amazing gospel account of Jesus’ resurrection, and an inspiring sermon culminating in a festive Eucharistic celebration.
When we don’t forgive, we drink the poison ourselves and then wait for the other person to die. And we take the knife that has hurt us and we stab ourselves with it again. …
But when we forgive, we pour out the poison of the enemy and of the devil and we don’t let the poison stay in us and we don’t let the poison make us into poisonous snakes!
At his installation service, Pope Francis urged Roman Catholics around the world to serve “the poorest, the weakest, the least important, those whom Matthew lists in the final judgment on love: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and those in prison.”
Who are you to judge the life I live I know I’m not perfect, and I don’t live to be, but before you start pointing fingers make sure your hands are clean.
-Bob Marley, “Judge Not”
“Your son should be ashamed of himself, he is a disgrace,” a woman told my father, pointing at me accusingly.
Ten years ago on a cold dark night, Someone was killed ‘neath the town hall light. There were few at the scene, but they all agreed, That the slayer who ran, looked a lot like me.
– Johnny Cash, “Long Black Veil”
For many people the experience of betrayal feels like “the kiss of death.”
Remember prisoners as if you were in prison with them, and people who are mistreated as if you were in their place.
– Hebrews 13:3 (CEB)
Prison is a growth industry proclaimed a recent article in Financialtimes.com. “Brazil’s economy might not be growing as fast as it used to, but investors will be given the chance to buy into what remains a true growth industry in Latin America’s largest country – prisons.”
You can’t get forgiveness from God… without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.1
“Can he ever be forgiven? Can he find redemption?” – asked the interviewer.
“Those are the questions,” replied a psychologist, and then mused aloud, “but who really deserves forgiveness?”
Injustice is everywhere; justice seems far away. Truth is chased out of court; honesty is shoved aside. Everyone tells lies; those who turn from crime end up ruined.1
We found ourselves in a delicate situation in which the question hung poignantly and pointedly between us.
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