Prison
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series III, Cycle C
We lived only about six miles from church, but we had to pass a maximum security prison on our way. Every Sunday as we drove alongside the prison, we would watch the prisoners doing exercises, playing basketball, running on the track, or just sitting and visiting with other inmates. We always commented on how it must feel to be trapped, in a sense. They had no freedom; their lives were lived within concrete walls that were behind barbed-wire fences eight feet high. Guard towers were at every corner and cameras were trained on the walls. We felt bad for them.
The prisoners are like Lazarus. Lazarus was at the mercy of the rich man; the prisoners are at the mercy of the court and the justice system. Lazarus had no freedom. Apparently he had a physical limitation because he was lying at the gate of the rich man; the prisoners have no freedom outside the prison walls.
It was as if we were the rich man, free to make decisions, free to come and go, free to treat people as we like. The prisoners were our Lazarus, a reminder that some are condemned in this life to a life with limitations.
Who is your Lazarus?
The prisoners are like Lazarus. Lazarus was at the mercy of the rich man; the prisoners are at the mercy of the court and the justice system. Lazarus had no freedom. Apparently he had a physical limitation because he was lying at the gate of the rich man; the prisoners have no freedom outside the prison walls.
It was as if we were the rich man, free to make decisions, free to come and go, free to treat people as we like. The prisoners were our Lazarus, a reminder that some are condemned in this life to a life with limitations.
Who is your Lazarus?
