Reform and believe

One night, Piri was lying on his cell bunk in prison. Suddenly, it occurred to him what a mess he had made of his life. He felt an overwhelming desire to pray. But he was sharing the cell with another prisoner called “the thin kid.” So he waited.

After he thought “the thin kid” was asleep, he climbed out of his bunk, knelt down on the cold concrete, and prayed. He said: “I told God what was in my heart…I talked to him plain…no big words…I talked to him of my wants and lacks, of my hopes and disappointments…I felt like I could even cry…something I hadn’t been able to do for years.”

After Piri finished his prayer, a small voice said, “Amen.” It was “the thin kid.” “There we were,” Piri said, “he lying down, head on bended elbows, and I still on my knees. No one spoke for a long while. Then the kid whispered, “I believe in Dios also.”

The two young men talked a long time. Then Piri climbed back into his bunk. “Good night, Chico,” he said. “I’m thinking that God is always with us–it’s just that we aren’t with him.”

As we entered the gymnasium at state prison, many men who had similar experiences as Piri Thomas surrounded us. Many of them had attended the ACTS retreat there in the McConnell Unit and had met the Lord Jesus, his forgiveness and had committed themselves to his service.

The gymnasium was literally full of men–about 350 men–who were singing, clapping and praising God. On my way to hear confessions, I had no less than 40 men greet me, embrace me and welcome me.

The celebration of the Mass with Bishop Michael Mulvey as celebrant was done in sheer joy. That day, we received eight men into the Church. Their sponsors were fellow inmates. They obviously had been touched deeply by God’s love and God’s great forgiveness.

It reminded me of the Scripture passage, “When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.’ Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Tell me, teacher,’ he said. ‘Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?’ Simon said in reply, ‘The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.’ He said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’ Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love’. (Lk 7:39-47)”

When it came time for the Baptisms, there were tears in the eyes of the men to be baptized and of the sponsors. It was deeply moving and a powerful witness for us. The attentiveness of the men during the consecration was truly focused on the Lord with deep faith and gratitude.

At the sign of peace, we saw two rival gang members embrace. It brought tears to our eyes. Thus, the men approached Holy Communion as a treasure; and once again, there were tears in the eyes of the men who were just baptized. They knew they were meeting the One who had forgiven them and loved them with all their faults and mistakes.
The room was filled with Piri Thomases.

I give thanks to God for the opportunity to have shared in the Supper of the Lord with these men of faith.