A Witness to God's Goodness and Mercy

This week I learned that Dennis, an inmate at Lansing Correctional Facility who had been part of the Catholic Scripture study/faith sharing group, died of cancer. After receiving his cancer diagnosis about two years ago, at Dennis’ request, one of our volunteers helped him prepare to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. When they discussed why Dennis wanted to do this, his reply was simple; he said, “I want to do something right in my life, and this is it.”

What can we do in life that is more right than receiving the sacraments? Each sacrament is an affirmation of our relationship with the God who created us, forgives us, feeds us, and calls us to serve others. I find it deeply touching that Dennis recognized the grace God offered him and was able to accept it despite the mess he had made of his life in the past.

The last job Dennis held in the prison was in the bake house. He found new purpose in feeding others as a baker, just as he had been fed by Christ and by the support of the volunteers and inmates in the Catholic Callout group. When we do right by developing a relationship with God, suddenly many other aspects of life start going right as well.

Before he died, Dennis ended up blessing the lives of others through his witness to God’s goodness and mercy. He embodied the words of Psalm 136: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.”