MY FIRST PRISON VISIT
“I was in prison and you came to see me.” – Matthew 25:36
I
came from a Caring Group (CG) meeting in the morning and even brought
my two CG members with me. It was a novel experience for us: our first
prison visit. We were not informed beforehand that we would be leading
discussion groups during the visit. I was a bag of nerves since I was
unprepared and simply didn’t
know what to expect. The hardened faces of the inmates even intimidated
me. I just said a quick silent prayer before I started leading the
opening prayer.
Just
when I was about to castigate myself for not handling the discussion
with confidence, an inmate approached me after the closing prayer and
told me her life story. I had a very memorable one-on-one with her.
God, I know it was You at work.
Blesilda
(not her real name) didn’t look like a woman stripped of freedom and
dignity behind bars. She even looked happy and at peace. She related
about her daughter who worked in a giant multimedia company in the
province. It saddened me that she couldn’t tell her daughter that she
was in prison. Despite that, her aura radiated light because she
encountered Christ in the Correctional Institution for Women. Ems Sy Chan (havenofleeanne@gmail.com)
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REFLECTION:
It is the obligation of every Christian to perform corporal works or acts of mercy. Have you done your part?
May I not turn the other way when my neighbor needs my help.
St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.
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