Scary people in prison

“Lock them up and throw away the key.”

That is how many people feel today, even many Christians.

To be sure, we must protect society and incarceration is a legitimate and often necessary way to do that. Indeed, there are some people who can never be justly and safely released into society.

But as Christians we cannot ignore our obligations even to those who must stay behind bars, as today’s first reading reminds us.

Be mindful of prisoners
as if sharing their imprisonment,
and of the ill-treated
as of yourselves,
for you also are in the body.

They may have done evil and we must protect ourselves, but that does not get us completely off the hook.

And let us not forget the words of our Lord himself

Then they will answer and say,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill
or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?'

He will answer them,
Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do
for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.
Matthew 25:44-45

What have we not done for him lately?

Why don't we start doing something now?