Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
Saved by the mercy of the Lord
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him. Mt 21,31-32
This night I had a dream. I was in the waiting room of the kingdom of the heaven and I was talking with a bishop and a theologian, who were sitting next to me. At one point three coloured ladies entered, wearing a low-necked dress with a red miniskirt and high heels, who sat aside. It seemed to me to have already known them, but I did not remember where I had encountered them. “Perhaps I am wrong” I said to me, but looking them better, I was convinced that I had just seen them in somewhere. Poking very deep in my memory, I finally came to the light: “Well … they are the prostitutes who sang in the choir of the church of Castelvolturno, when they celebrated the marriage of that nigerian couple”. One year ago, in fact, when I went to Castelvolturno to visit Gianluca, it happened to me to attend the holy mass celebrated for that marriage. “Look daddy – Gianluca told me – those women, who sing in the choir, are three prostitutes”. “But really! – I said -do you have not anyone better to sing?”. “No – Gianluca pointed out – here most of the inhabitants are nigerians or ghanaians and among them there are many drug dealers and prostitutes. These professions are well represented among those whom you see today in the church”. I was still rummaging through these memories, when the front door of the kingdom of the heaven opens, an angel appears who, addressing the three ladies, says: “Please come in”. “Actually, I first arrived” said the theologian with whom I was talking about “Do not worry – the angel replied – you too will be called”. The bishop and the theologian looked each other being puzzled and all the three of us we have continued to talk. After a while, the door opens again, the angel calls me and I entered. When I was inside I could not avoid to comment: “Congratulations! finally a place where precedence is given to the ladies”. “It is not for chivalry – the angel said – the three ladies entered first because of their merits”. “Ah, yes! – I replied – and which are their special merits?”. “They have two – the angel added – first of all they are aware that they have been accepted by the mercy of the Lord and not for their own merits. And then, having lived the life they have done, they have always been lenient with the sins of the others”. “I understand – I replied – and thanks for accepting me as well”. “This was the dream and I told you so as it was” I said at the morning prayer.