(Jn. 11:1-45)
There are many kinds of death – but the one that probably most closely approximates Lazarus’ experience is the experience of being in prison.
Beth works for a juvenile facility. If asked, she’d be the first to say that her work has little if anything to do with building up the kingdom. Certainly, the kids in her facility are no angels. Most are street kids who spend their lives just scrambling to keep alive. Many have never known their fathers nor had any male role models in their lives, and in too many cases even their mothers have been absent at best, drunk or high at worst. For these kids the gang is probably the closest thing to a family they’ve ever known.
Some got in trouble because they were looking for attention. Not particularly good students or great athletes, they felt left out and ignored. They had an overwhelming need to be noticed – even if it was on the evening news. Others were just in the wrong place at the wrong time – usually with the wrong person. They’re the followers, the outsiders looking for a way in.
To many people these kids are ‘dead’, bound by their past. Their lives have been put on hold for months or even years. “Good riddance to bad rubbish,” some say. But Beth believes otherwise. Beth believes that for most of these kids there’s still the possibility of life.
“Lazarus, come out!” Their jail sentence is over. Maybe they’re out on parole. Maybe they’ve even gotten time off for good behavior. Whatever the reason or circumstances, their time in jail ends, the door opens, and they walk out into the sunlight. What happens next depends pretty much on what has happened while they were behind bars. They can go on being dead and probably wind up in jail again – or worse. Or they can come out changed, alive with hope for a better life. And that’s where Beth comes in. “Untie him and let him go.” What does Beth’s work have to do with building the kingdom? Beth’s a social worker. She’s the one who unties them…
Vinal Van Benthem, sfo
