Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: DEVOTED (02/04/21)
-
TITLE: Mother Mary | Previous Challenge Entry
By John Esposito
02/10/21 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Even though I recognize where I am, I’m confused. Just minutes ago I was lying in my hospital bed. In late March I was blessed to receive Covid-19. A few days ago I was taken off a ventilator after being hooked up to it for ten days. Now I’m at church; my church, where I am the pastor; as someone who should understand all of this or what is possibly happening, but I don’t.
I’m kneeling next to the pulpit and leaning against the communion railing. I began to pray asking God to explain this to me. I thought maybe that I had died and that God was giving me a final glimpse of my sanctuary; a quick good-by.
Then in front of me on the red carpeted floor scriptures began flashing. Facing me, someone dressed like a Monk was sitting cross legged and flipping these big puzzle pieces. And every time the puzzle pieces were flipped the scripture changed.
Then the Monk like figure disappeared. It instantly became dark again and once again I began to pray. Then the center isle of the sanctuary began to glow. Not the whole sanctuary, just the center isle. I can smell incense. It smelled wonderful, like frankincense.
Suddenly the light got brighter and a Roman Catholic priest appeared. His back was to me and he was facing and headed for the front door. His alb was gold with purple trim, floor-length with long sleeves. On his head he wore a tall auriphrygiata, again gold and purple. Swinging in his left hand is a censer, an incense burner; which explained the sweet aroma of the frankincense.
Now I’m thinking this is it; you’re dying now! But, then priest took three steps and disappeared. Again it got dark. I touched my skin and I’m still warm. Do to the stillness I can also hear my heart beating.
Next the front pew in front of me begins to glow. As the light got brighter I can see a silhouette. It was Mary, Mother Mary. The light just kept getting brighter and brighter; to the point where I could no longer look at it and had to close my eyes and turn away from it.
Anyway that light, Mary’s light. It was warm. It was soothing. The light was peaceful. It was just me and just Mary. Then she spoke, “Rabboni (teacher) don’t worry, everything is going to be OK.”
As fast as her light faded, she was gone, it’s dark again. When I opened my eyes I was back in my hospital room. The clock on the wall read 4:20am. I found out later in the day that it was Palm Sunday.
I had to learn how to eat, drink, talk and walk all over again. I spent five weeks total in the hospital and in rehab. While I was in rehab I was able to catch up on my phone messages. There were many messages saying they felt a powerful urge to pray for me.
They all said they were awakened early in morning. They felt compelled to drop to their knees, again to pray for me. When I was finally able to ask them what time all of this happened, they all said between 4:00 and 4:30 in the morning. That morning was the morning of Palm Sunday.
One friend said that she saw me in a tunnel walking towards the light. She kept yelling for me but I couldn’t hear her. As I approached the threshold I stopped, stood there for a little while, turned around and started walking back. I wonder if we saw the same light.
Another friend said that he saw me walking across a field until I came to a fence with a gate. On the other side of the gate was a lamb; again I stood there for a little while, turned around and started walking back across the field. I wonder if the lamb was telling me the same thing as Mary, “Everything is going to be OK.”
If you have ever wondered if the heavenly realm is truly devoted to us, they are. Amen!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.