Resurrection is a Group Project
Written By Anne W
“D has spent most of her 20’s in jail awaiting trial. She will likely be released soon and begin a new life. It’s exciting and terrifying, but D has many people who care deeply for her and have invested in her during incarceration: family, friends, lawyers, judges, officers and many chaplains.
Recently, we read the Bible story of the resurrection of Lazarus together and discussed how resurrection is hard. The story tells how Mary and Martha, followers of Jesus and Lazarus’s sisters, send for Jesus to come heal their sick brother. He delays, arriving four days after Lazarus has died and been laid in a cave-like tomb. Villagers, friends and family have gathered together to mourn. Martha runs out to greet Jesus and says “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” (John 11:1-22)
“If only” is a statement of fact; it is an expression of deep pain and real loss. “Even now” is a declaration of faith making room for God to work when we can’t fathom a solution. D’s life has been filled with many “if only” moments, but together in that moment we prayed for her to have an “even now” kind of faith as she is released. But four days in the tomb is a long time; and six years in jail is a very long time. Can new life really be possible?
As we continued the story, Jesus wept for Lazarus with the gathered friends and family. Deeply moved, he instructed the villagers to roll the stone away from the tomb. It takes many hands to move the heavy stone. Jesus commanded Lazarus to walk out and he miraculously emerges in his burial bindings. Again Jesus involved the villagers, asking the crowd to “unbind him and let him go.” (John 11:28-44)
Resurrection is hard. Moving a seemingly unmovable stone is hard. Walking out of the tomb of jail is hard. Unbinding ourselves and each other is hard. But resurrection is a group project, accomplished through the combined effort of a “village” working together in love.
I am part of D’s village, praying for her to find the strength and will to walk out of jail and live a transformed life. I especially pray that she knows she is worth the effort, worthy of happiness and freedom.
As volunteer chaplains, our joy is to participate in the resurrection of those inside. Sometimes resurrection is big and dramatic, more often it is small and incremental,
but it is always miraculous.”
(This story has been edited to protect personal details)
