Last Sunday July 12, 2009, we had schedules in both the provincial and city jails of Batangas. On both venues we have found that the presence of Jesus brought so much compassion and life to people who are close to helpless and close to forgotten. In the first jail, I was observing a rather 'involved" inmate as we prepared for the testimony. He attended to the things we needed and the small stage acting as their altar or capilla like it were his own. I got acquainted with Brother Camillo who shared with us that he wouldve been released earlier had the judges handling his case not retired. He was content caring for their community inside, caring for their sick, attending to their religious activities, doing handicrafts and making good use of his time- despite as he said "kahit matagal na akong walang bisita" (its been a long time since Ive had a visitor). As he smiled at us and as I moved to assure him, he quickly added that he has received so many answered prayers and he believes the Divine Mercy will yet answer his prayers today. When I asked him if he didnt mind me asking what he was in jail for, he humbly replied it was for murder, one that he says he did not commit. Despite his circumstances, the smile in his face was very sincere. He was very real and his trust in God was more than reassuring. It was heartbreaking and I found myself praying much that he will be able to find solace in his suffering and that one day he will find himself a home outside the confines of those prison walls- in Gods merciful time. In the city jail which we found to be located in a rather remote place in the City- we found short of 200 inmates and some visiting families. In one of the enclosed facilities, I was watching an inmate flocked by his daughter and wife. He was brandishing a small wooden house which he crafted as part of their livelihood program. It was beautiful. I wouldve bought it for my daughter but then I overheard him say, "Ito ang dream house ko! (this is my dream house!) and so, I decided against it. If such gave him a symbol of hope and life beyond whatever error he was in jail for, then he should be all means keep it to remind him to keep his dreams alive. There is indeed life behind those walls- 565 lives in the provincial jail and 178 in the city jail- all serving man's imperfect justice, but having been made equal in God's eyes, are just as entitled to redemption and mercy. When I joined the jail schedule last Sunday, in my mind I was bringing them something- the message of the Divine Mercy through Stanley's life testimony. The irony of it is, God was already there. He never left them and was just waiting for them to embrace His mercy. In the end, I took home with me much more than I sought to give. God is too good. To those of us who are out here and free, may we always have the grace to choose and use of our freewill out of love for God.