Jesus says that when we knock, the door will be opened for us (Mt 7:7). God neither sleeps nor slumbers (Ps 121:4); He is always ready to answer our knocking. Scripture also reveals that Jesus knocks on our door. He says: "Here I stand, knocking at the door" (Rv 3:20). Will we open for Him without delay? (Lk 12:36)
We are to make the most of the present opportunity (Eph 5:16). To do so, we must be expecting a knock on our door, so that we have the chance to open to the Master. Simeon was expecting the Messiah; God had informed him in advance (Lk 2:26). Accordingly, Simeon was prepared and ready when Jesus came into his life. Anna the prophetess did not have the benefit of advance warning. However, she was also immediately ready to greet the Lord and speak of Him (Lk 2:38ff). Likewise, the Gospel readings give us the forewarning to be constantly ready and vigilant to answer the Lord's knock.
Pope St. John Paul II frequently exhorted: "Open wide the doors to Christ!" It is likely a prophecy that two of the most prolific healers of the Twentieth Century were doorkeepers. St. André Bessette and Fr. Solanus Casey spent years as doorkeepers in their religious orders. They were ready to hear and answer the Lord, opening wide their doors to Christ and His hurting people. Many thousands of people were healed through their ministry of answering the knocking on their door. They were trained to listen, open, and respond. Let us "go and do the same" (Lk 10:37).
| PRAYER: | Father, open my ears, eyes, and heart so that I will always be ready for You in every moment. |
| PROMISE: | "It is [Jesus] Who is our Peace." –Eph 2:14 |
| PRAISE: | St. Paul of the Cross was inspired by meditating upon the sufferings of Jesus. He founded the Passionists. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College