Testimony of faith. Hands outstretched

Almost twenty years already. This Sunday in September, I am getting ready to go to church when my wife calls out to me: “It’s definitely worth going to pray given your behavior with those around you. Did you hear how you spoke to your mother-in-law? » A deserved reprimand. On the way, I think: “This is the last time I go to mass. Besides, there are fewer and fewer people. »

I take part in the service, filled with a strong feeling of guilt. In the communion procession, I pray to Jesus: “Grant that I may become even a pale reflection of your dazzling light. » Back in my place, I pray to him again so that my children also believe in him. And suddenly, I saw a scene out of time: Jesus seated on his throne of glory, dressed in a shimmering bronze-green cloak covering the entire space, his hands outstretched in an attitude of welcome, the smiling face of an indefinable tenderness. In front of this splendor, I feel isolated, pathetic. Who does he welcome with such kindness? Suddenly, I come back to reality, surprised to find myself standing after such a shock. No one around me noticed anything. For months, I questioned myself. Why this vision, why me, when so many deserving people do not have this kind of privilege?

I found the answer while tidying up my desk. I came across a letter received several years previously from a friend, a former sales director with whom I had worked. He always received me with his hands open and outstretched towards me in the manner of Christ. His letter surprised me at the time. Here it is: “October 1, 2003, All Saints’ Day. All Saints’ Day just popped into my head! After so many mistakes! It is salvation, and it dazzles me to such an extent that, like children, I laugh, I shout and jump for joy and warn all my loved ones, all my friends of this Good News! Who then is this God, whose first to be saved, his neighbor on the cross, is a murderer; whose first guest to recognize him resurrected is a prostitute; whose first leader of his Church has just denied him three times, if not to say that our God did not make us imperfect but complementary, in order to associate us all with his eternity? All saints, it’s so beautiful, thank you. Lots of kisses. »