As I walk the streets of my city - what is missing?

As I walk the streets of my city - what is Missing?

A Fictional Story

I look here and there and what do I see?  Nobody I know, not even one.  The vision that comes before me is a blur as I rub my eyes and notice those I thought I saw were trees blowing from a dusty wind.  What has happened I wonder as my steps take me to the Church.  Entering the Cathedral, to my surprise, the pews were empty.  Where are the crowds that normally are sitting waiting for the priest and ministers to come into the sanctuary and the organ playing the opening song?

Upon leaving this magnificent structure that held all the treasures of hope and faith was now an empty vessel of memories that no longer had meaning.  I pulled my cell-phone out of my pants pocket and turned it on.  The battery allowed a screen to light up but no connection.  A message popped up stating that there was no internet connection.  I searched through the different apps but nothing appeared.  Just items that were in the memory were the only things that came up.

Was I the only human left here without any idea of where I was or what time or dimension I was left in?  I remembered that there were preachers who spoke of the period that would occur before Christ’s return to the earth.  They called it the Rapture where the elect would be taken into heaven along with all of the dead who would be raised as well.  Is this where I was, part of a world that I couldn’t put any reasoning to, and what’s next?  

Trying to search my memory from catechism classes my mind opened to me some of the teaching from the catechism.  “Since the Ascension Christ’s coming in glory has been imminent, even though “it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority.”  This eschatological coming could be accomplished at any moment, even if both it and the final trial that will precede it are “delayed.”  (CCC 673).  

I remembered further the parable Jesus spoke of from Matthew’s Gospel.  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.  And he will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”  (Mt 25: 32 - 32).  The final judgment of the nations.  This couldn't be that place where he was standing since there was no one else beside him, or anywhere he could see. 

The next thing he did was to recite an Act of Contrition since this was the one prayer he remembered to say any time he had a desire to sin and was now asking for help through the Holy Spirit of Christ.  Suddenly, as he finished the prayer with a contrite heart his eyes opened and he was inside the Cathedral and thousands were with him singing “How Great Thou Art.”  Was he in a dream or had he lost his memory for an instant?  Whatever his situation was, the significance of a future for all of us is not too far away from reality and without the forgiveness of God we may not find the true love that he has promised to those who trust and believe in Christ.    

As Roman Catholics we have the very grace that Christ handed us through his Crucifixion/Resurrection event on Calvary and the empty tomb on Easter that will be ours as well.  Hold onto the faith that is the gift of hope given us through our belief in Christ’s Passion. 

Ralph B. Hathaway