While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue.
Lisa Bartelt participated in this year’s Lenten Compact, “Fast For Freedom”, through Faith Church in Lancaster, PA. Lisa is a writer who shared her Lenten experience on her blog. Thank you, Lisa, for sharing your insights.
What did you learn during Lent? How has your Fast for Freedom changed you or challenged you? How have you taken the Lenten experience into the Easter season?
While our Lenten Compact is concluded, the issue of mass incarceration and corrections in the US has not gone away. Recently, PBS showed a Frontline documentary called “Solitary Nation”. It is a very disturbing (and difficult to watch) look at the effect of solitary confinement on inmates–some of whom have been locked in the Special Housing Unit for over a year. Watch the video online at http://video.pbs.org/video/2365229709/. Frontline has numerous articles that relate to the issue.
On April 29, Frontline will present “Prison State”–a look at mass incarceration. Check your local PBS station listing for details.
On this Easter Sunday, we celebrate the release of Jesus from the cords of death that imprisoned him. The Psalmist captures the feelings of joy at being released from the pit. As you reflect on Easter, how have you experienced release? What song of joy can you sing today?
Today, pray for those who are still bound in chains that they will also experience freedom and joy in the hope of God’s new life even while bound.
What elements in the story of Jesus’ burial sound and feel like incarceration in a maximum security prison? How might being in prison feel similar to being dead?
As we conclude our 40 days of Lent, what have you learned from your participation in this year’s Fast for Freedom? How has it changed you and/or challenged you to think and act differently toward those who are imprisoned? How do you intend to extend the Fast for Freedom beyond Lent and Easter?
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. A bonus devotional will be published to help you enter the day with joy in the freedom of God.
How is Jesus’ death a part of “breaking the chains of injustice” and setting captives free? What hope might the cross give to those who are imprisoned? What hope might the cross give to the victims of crime?
We’ve been so influenced by substitutionary atonement theology that we often can only understand Jesus’ death in that light. (i.e. “I should have died for my sins, but Jesus died in my place.”) Historically, the church has had a number of other ways of understanding Jesus’ death. Theologian James Cone, author of “The Cross and the Lynching Tree” has articulated a case that Jesus’ death is comparable to the lynching “justice” of the Jim Crow south. Suspicion, hatred, and mob action lead to an unjust sentence of death. Jesus suffers injustice and is representative of all those who face injustice and the threat of death. And in absorbing the hatred by refusing to respond with hatred and violence even to the point of death, Jesus exposes the forces of violence and injustice and is vindicated at the resurrection.
Is Mr. Cone’s comparison helpful to you as you consider Jesus’ death? If so, how?
Cook County Sheriff, Tom Dart, told “60 Minutes” that jails throughout the nation including Cook County jail have become the new insane asylums–housing more and more people with various mental illnesses. He estimated that between 2500 and 2800 inmates at Cook County have various forms of mental illness. With fewer resources for treatment, those with mental illness are ending up in jail–often for minor infractions. Read more of the story HERE.
Pilate is convinced that Jesus is innocent, yet gives the authorization to crucify Jesus. Why do you think he gave in to the pressure? How did the members of the Jewish council “work the system” to get what they wanted?
How do the wrongful conviction of Jesus and the release of Barabbas relate to Jesus’ mission to proclaim release to the prisoners (Luke 4:18-19)? How do you think Barabbas was impacted by this this turn of events in his life? (There is no further reference to Barabbas in the Bible, so it is pure speculation.) How do you think you would be impacted?
After the arrest, all of Jesus’ disciples scattered with the exception of Peter. Peter followed him to the courtyard where the council was trying Jesus. However, when Peter was confronted about his involvement with Jesus, he denied even knowing him.
Often people who are incarcerated experience the withdrawal of family and friends due to their crimes. Their feeling of abandonment only intensifies their situation. Understandably, friends do not want to be suspected of criminal behavior, and family members often feel ashamed as they share the burden of guilt. Families are sometimes marginalized by their friends, churches and communities.
Do you know a family that is currently facing the trial or incarceration of a close relative? How have you treated the family thus far? What could you or your church do this week to support them?
The state of Texas evidently believes that prisons are the answer to all infractions of the law. There have to be other ways to hold people accountable. Prison will only put this man (and thousands more like him) further into debt. Check out the story at HERE.
How is the “trial” of Jesus a mockery of Old Testament court procedure? What is the final verdict based upon? How is Jesus treated once he is convicted?
We know of many instances where prisoners are treated shamefully by guards or captors. The torture and mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq by US forces in 2003-2004 created a global scandal. There have been charges of torture and mistreatment of prisoners at the US detention facility at Guantanamo, Cuba, and guards at Cook County Jail (IL) routinely beat up inmates. Women are often victims of rape by those assigned to guard them. Why do you think those in authority authorize (or at least allow) mistreatment to occur?
What do you think we are to take away from the accounts of Jesus’ mistreatment?
Tongue on Fire 