The disciples said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day.—John 1:38–39
One challenge for the abolitionist theological project is to develop our imaginations to “see” the language of liberation and abolition for prisoners throughout the whole arc of scripture.
To that end, and as a Christian in a liturgical tradition that uses a lectionary, where set texts are read each Sunday, this is the start of a series to provide meditations on selected lectionary texts, for study (and to help preachers) in advance of the coming Sunday.
(I say selected because I don’t think I can promise to get one up EVERY week – but I will do my best! The goal is to see abolition in as much of the lectionary as we can. And if you, a reader of this blog, have an idea for a meditation for this series, please contact me, at least a week in advance, and I’ll be happy to run it!)
In the Gospel reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for Sunday, January 19, 2020, we are faced with the disciples following Jesus, whom John the Baptist has just identified as the Lamb of God. Their first question to him is “Where are you staying?”
The concept of “staying” or “dwelling” already has great resonance in the first chapter of the Gospel of John, where we have just read that “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” and that “the Spirit descended upon him and remained on him.” For the disciples to look for where Jesus is staying is not just a practical request but an opening of their eyes to see where God is abiding and illuminating the world.
What the abolitionist perspective brings to this story is an answer to the question “Where are you staying?”—we know that the place where God dwells is in the darkest places in our world, in the darkness with the captives, in our jails and prisons. God is present in and with everyone who is incarcerated, bringing liberating power to “those who sit in darkness” (Isaiah 9:2).
The disciples ask Jesus, “Where are you staying?” and Jesus responds, “Come and see.” Come and see the conditions in our prisons and jails, and be radicalized. Come and see the presence of God even in the midst of this horror, and find hope in God’s ongoing work against prisons. Come and see the place where God dwells in the midst of our prison nation.