Enter Into the Place Prepared For You – A Parable

When he died few tears were shed, and those that were shed were for his victims, the five young women - girls really -that he killed.  He was sentenced to death for his crimes and executed by the state.  And yet, as he passed from life to life he found himself at the pearly gates facing, not St. Peter as in so many humorous anecdotes, but Jesus himself.  And staring into the Savior’s face he was suddenly and completely repentant.

“I am so sorry,” he sobbed.

And Jesus said to him, “I know, but I cannot let you in until you have repented and asked forgiveness from your many victims.”

“Yes, I want to do that,” he said.

And so the five young women were brought out to the gates to meet him, one at a time, escorted by a holy angel.  And he apologized to them for the harm he had done and begged their forgiveness.  They, each one having learned something of the Savior’s mercy, granted him their grace as well.

Then Jesus said to him, “You have sought forgiveness from the five that you killed, but your actions wounded many others as well.  You must seek their forgiveness also.” And so he waited there, in the shadow of the gates, year after year for the relatives and friends of his victims to pass by.  And as they came to the gates he approached each one of them in turn to make what amends he could.

After many years there remained only one he needed to address, and the time came that this relative – the father of the youngest murdered girl – ended his life on earth, and he stood before Jesus at the gates of heaven.

“Welcome, my son,” Jesus said to him.  “I am pleased to bring you into the place prepared for you, but first there is one who would speak to you.” Jesus motioned with his pierced hand and the repentant murderer humbly stepped out of the shadows.

“I am truly sorry for the pain I caused you in life, and though I could never deserve it, I ask for your forgiveness.”

The father of the murdered girl glowered and shook his head, “Never!  I can never forgive you for what you did to my little girl.”

Then Jesus turned to the repentant killer and said, “You are welcome here; enter into the place prepared for you.”  And he, after so many years of waiting, passed through those pearly gates into heaven.

The father sputtered in rage, “How can you welcome him?  He killed my little girl!”

Jesus said to him, “I know, but I have forgiven him, and your daughter has forgiven him.  He has received mercy.”

The father’s eyes welled up with tears at the mention of his daughter.  “She’s here?  Can I see her?”  And he stepped forward to enter through the gates.  But Jesus stopped him.

“I’m sorry.  But you cannot enter. Not with the hatred and anger you carry for the man who killed your daughter.”

The father stammered in frustration.  He stamped his feet and spat, “I wouldn’t want to be in any heaven that welcomed him, anyway!”

And he stormed away.