Prison Edition of The Word Among Us - Sample

SPECIAL INMATE EDITION WITH CATHOLIC MASS READINGS SEPTEMBER 2021 WAU.ORG

DAILY MEDITATIONS FOR CATHOLICS

Receiving and Giving Forgiveness

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Forgiveness—Two Sides of a Coin

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id you know that forgiveness, like a coin, has two sides? One side of this “coin” is receiving forgiveness, and the other is giving forgiveness.

Receiving forgiveness can be hard, especially if you’re incarcerated. You’re vulnerable to guilt and shame and can feel unworthy of God’s mercy. But God forgives everyone—including you!

Giving forgiveness isn’t easy either.

Anger and resentment make it challenging to forgive those who have hurt you.

Even St. Peter struggled. He asked Jesus how often he should forgive—as many as seven times? Jesus told him, “Not seven times but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22).

Sadly, anger, resentment, and unforgiveness can destroy you. But receiving and giving forgiveness can change your life! Experience Jesus’ comfort and strength as you say the prayer on the opposite page. Jesus knows how you struggle, and he is merciful. Remember, he even forgave Peter who denied him (see John 21:15-19).

Forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling. If you wait to feel like forgiving, it may never happen. Learn more about giving and receiving forgiveness on the next page. It’s never too late to begin this journey. You can start today!

It’s only with God’s help and the intercession of our heavenly Mother, Mary, that we can forgive. That’s how Immaculée Ilibagiza was able to do the unthinkable—forgive those who massacred her family in Rwanda in the 1990s. You can read her story in the back pages of this issue.

The Bible study this month comes from Jesus’ parable about the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). As you pray through this study, let the Holy Spirit assure you that you do have a merciful Father whom you can return to time and time again. You are special to him, so take a moment now to experience your Father’s loving embrace!

Angela Burrin

Memorize This: “Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ” (Ephesians 4:32).

A Forgiveness Prayer Father, I am special to you.

I may not be special to anyone else—but I am to you.

You are my Father. You created me and you love me.

Father, I have done wrong and turned away from you.

Please forgive me. (Confess your sins aloud or in your heart.)

I believe Jesus died on the cross for all of my sins.

Jesus, I accept you as my Lord and Savior.

Father, I receive your forgiveness.

In your great love, welcome me again as one of your children.

Thank you for your amazing grace.

Father, it is your desire that I forgive myself, but it is difficult.

Help me to decide to say, “I forgive myself because God has forgiven me.”

Father, you ask me to forgive those who have hurt me.

(Bring those people to mind.)

In my mind, these people are guilty and deserve punishment.

Father, I decide now to freely give the gift of my forgiveness to each one of them.

(Say, “I forgive [name each person].” ) Father, I now ask that you bless them.

Amen.

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Forgiveness: Two Sides of a Coin Forgiveness is a conscious decision, not a feeling. You may be surprised to learn that both sides of the coin of forgiveness require a decision.

Receive God’s forgiveness for your sins. Open your heart by trusting that your faithful Father will never reject you. He will not condemn you (John 8:11). Now, acknowledge God’s presence and ask forgiveness for your sins. Say, “Father, I accept your forgiveness.” Experience the peace that comes from being forgiven and find the strength to forgive yourself.

Finally, if there’s a relationship you’ve damaged, make a phone call or write a letter to apologize. Use the words “Please forgive me.”

Give forgiveness to others. It’s a challenge to forgive when people have seriously wronged you. But with God’s grace, you can do it. Forgiveness is not denying or justifying the pain they caused you. Choose to forgive, regardless of whether you think they deserve your forgiveness. Decide not to allow your heart to be consumed with hatred or resentment. The offenses may remain in your memory, but by forgiving, you can move forward.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you make a list of people you need to forgive. Look back over your life, from early childhood until now. Say the prayer on the previous page.  Turn to the back of the magazine to learn more about forgiveness.

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“I Forgive You”

Kigali, the capital and largest city of Rwanda

The Story of Immaculée Ilibagiza mmaculée Ilibagiza and her three brothers were born in Kibeho, a small village in

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brothers were brutally chopped to death by Hutu gangs with machetes. Only one member

southern Rwanda, located in central Africa.

Rwanda’s people are from the Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa tribes. In April 1994, the plane of the Hutu president was shot down and he was killed. In retaliation, the Hutu rebels killed an estimated 77 percent of the Tutsi population of Rwanda as well as many Hutus who opposed their actions. Kibeho was among the many villages that experienced horrific violence. In total, approximately eight hundred thousand people were killed.

To escape rape and murder, Immaculée, a Tutsi, was hidden by a local Hutu pastor together with seven others in a bathroom in his home for three months. Immaculée’s

of her immediate family, a brother studying in Senegal, survived.

While in hiding, Immaculée struggled with anger and resentment. Although she prayed daily for hours, while saying the Our Father, her mouth would become dry when she came to the phrase “Forgive those who trespass against us.” In her heart, she knew she didn’t mean these words. But she persevered in asking God for his help to forgive the murders. It was in turning toward God and away from hate that she found peace.

After the genocide, Immaculée went to the jail to visit the men who murdered her family. She said these three little but power-

father was shot. Her mother and two of her

ful words, “I forgive you.”

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The Parable of the Prodigal Son—Luke 15:14-24 Read the full story in Luke 15:11-32 Jesus tells the story of a son who demands his inheritance money early and goes off to make his own way.

“When [the son] had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘. . . Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began.”

Reflect: How does this parable make you feel? What part of it speaks to your life?

Act: Read the parable again, underlining words that especially strike you.

Pray: “Father, I praise you for your love and forgiveness.”

Reflect: Recall a moment, past or recent, when you came to your senses just like the son. What triggered that realization?

Act: Go to your heavenly Father and tell him about your life as only you know it.

Pray: “Here I am, Father. Let me know your mercy today.”

Reflect: How do you think the son felt on his way home? How do you think his feelings changed when he saw his father running toward him?

Act: Think of a recent experience of knowing the kindness of your heavenly Father.

Pray: “Father, I stand in awe of your compassion and generosity.”

Reflect: Why was the father waiting so eagerly for his son to return? What were some of his thoughts and emotions?

Act: Tell another inmate that God wants them to experience his forgiveness.

Pray: “Father, show all of us inmates how to run home to you and receive our eternal inheritance!”

Reflect: Why did the father forgive his son’s past? What can you let go of to more fully embrace your Father’s forgiveness?

Act: Gather some snacks to celebrate God’s forgiveness. Invite some friends!

Pray: “Father, thank you for welcoming me home!”

Words from the Inside CH ALL E G

Choose today to receive or give forgiveness.

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“Lord, for the people I’ve hurt, forgive me. For the people that hurt me, forgive, bless, protect, and help them find peace. Help me, Lord, to not have any hard feelings against them and to find forgiveness in my heart for any pain or suffering they caused me.”

—Salvatore, Pennsylvania “I am a sinner, but in my heart, I believe that God has forgiven me.

God has done the same for you.

Romans 4:7 says, ‘Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.’ Amen!’”

—Guadalupe, Texas “Forgive yourself and others because God already has forgiven you.”

—K. from Maryland “Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.”

—Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch survivor of a Nazi concentration camp

During the month of September, Pope Francis asks the Church to pray that we not be wasteful with the things we have been given.

Angela Burrin is the director of the ministry to prisoners for The Word Among Us Partners. You can reach her at The Word Among Us, 7115 Guilford Dr., Suite 100, Frederick, MD, 21704.