Hekima Review No. 10 (March 1994)

Asked why he decided not to be baptized after his catechetical instructions, an old man at the time of the early missionary activities in Africa replied, "I'll be alone in heaven when I go there because my grandfathers, mothers, and the rest of my family who died as pagans, will not be present." Certainly, this teaching belongs to the old missionary theology which we may today find difficult to defend. Remarkable about the response of the old sage, however, is his deep insight into the mystery of life after death. If heaven is communion, then it should not only be with God but also with all our dear ones, pagans inclusive. Grace, for the old man, is not only God's self-giving that saves souls but also more importantly God's self-giving that builds communion and fosters communion even after death.