“The Fight is Fixed”

This was the surprisingly insightful phrase I heard uttered by an incarcerated man serving time in a prison in Upstate NY. I was part of a  prison ministry program called Residents Encounter Christ (or REC as it is referred to by the team of program volunteers). REC is a 3 day event that focuses on the Paschal Mystery of the Christian faith – Day 1 focuses on dying to self and our sinful ways, Day 2 on rising with Christ to new life, and Day 3 on walking forth each new day in faith.

Towards the end of the program, the prison residents are given an opportunity to stand up and express in their own words what they have learned during the program and what the weekend has personally meant to them. This man stood up and began his impassioned witness with the statement “My Brothers and Sisters, the fight is fixed…”. He went on to explain that Jesus Christ had already gone to battle for us and shed his blood for our salvation, and because he laid down his life we can all have hope – that no matter what we are struggling with in our lives, no matter what difficulties we encounter, no matter what demons attack us, no matter how many times we get knocked down to the mat – at the end of our race, God has fixed the fight in our favor. Christ chose to become the sacrificial lamb that destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light.  Christ wins, we win.

Proclaiming Release to the Captives

During the high holy days of this Easter season, when thoughts of the great victory that Jesus has won for us is foremost in my mind, I often think back to that moment in prison when I heard the phrase “The fight is fixed” uttered by a man who was entombed in a dark prison system – separated from his family and loved ones, with no hope for release. Yet, he did look forward in hope for his own resurrection not only in this life but at the end of his days when he could tell those guarding the gates of heaven that they should let him enter “…because Jesus Christ died for my sins”.

May you too always look forward in hope and come to view death not as an enemy but as the entry to everlasting life -like St Paul did when he wrote in his letter to the Corinthians“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” .