Friday of week 24 in Ordinary Time (Year II)
Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
1 Corinthians 15:12-20 | Psalm 16:1,6-8,15 | Luke 8:1-3
But Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)
One of the most interesting conversion stories I’ve heard goes like this:
I’d just drifted off to sleep, when I was blinded by a very bright light. I woke up in a cold sweat, but it was still dark outside.
I went back to sleep, and again the bright light appeared. This time, I felt like I was floating upwards. I woke up again, and it was still dark.
The third time I fell asleep, I saw the bright light once more, felt the floating sensation again…and had the feeling that it was time to go. This time, I was so scared that I sat up all night till dawn.
That day, my colleague asked me why I looked so tired. I told her about my experience, and her eyebrows went up when I mentioned the last bit. She asked if I was doing anything after work, and when I said no, she suggested that I accompany her to her church that evening.
I was immediately on my guard, but she wasn’t insistent about it. She did say, though, that “I think it’s time you met somebody I know.”
So we had dinner together, then she brought me to her church. When she opened the doors to the chapel, I was struck by how quiet it was, just a few people praying in silence. She motioned to me to sit down and be quiet, then she knelt and, like every one else, turned her attention to the Blessed Sacrament, which to me at that time was just a simple circle of white in some sort of fancy golden holder.
But I couldn’t look at it like everyone else. Instead, my attention was drawn to this sculpture of a man with his arms open wide, in front of a cross. Even though it was in semi-darkness, and his face seemed to be turned upwards, it was as though his eyes were fixed on me. I couldn’t look away either.
I don’t know how long I sat there, just staring at that man. All I remember was my colleague finally touching me on the shoulder, opening the floodgates of my tears.
That night, after I met Jesus for the first time, I slept like a baby.
Some day, we’ll all fall asleep on this earth for the last time. For some, it’ll be tonight, for others, tomorrow night; just like most people, I don’t know when it’ll be my turn.
All I can hope for is to have done enough good in this life, that when I meet Jesus face to face, He will recognize and welcome me. It would be heartbreaking to hear Him say: “I have never known you; away from me, you evil man!” (Matthew 7:23)
Lord, grant us the grace of seeing You in others, of knowing You in the Eucharist, of loving You in all creation, and in our final days, the sure hope that we will be reunited with You in heaven. Amen.