Revelation 2 & 3: Our Story – Part IV, The Knocking at the Door
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
For the last few days we have reflected on the story of our lives from its inception to its end. Today we explore the thoughts and dreams and hopes revealed in the unfolding of our lives.
I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.
Several years ago our parish scripture study group spent a number of weeks studying this last book of the New Testament. It is so full of symbols and allegory that even reading a commentary may not be enough to unravel all that is held within. These opening chapters depict Christ knocking at the doors of the seven established congregations; and they also tell us how people respond to Christ’s call. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, each community has its personal traits that characterize and individualize them, and if we look at ourselves and examine scripture we will be able to discovery in which place we live. Then we can spend time reflecting on what we do when we hear the knock at our own door. Do we hear it? Do we open the door? Are we prepared to dine with the one on the other side of the door? Are we willing to open ourselves to newness?
Most of us, when we expect guests, will clean the house, prepare food and drink, fluff pillows and put away stray family articles. We want to extend hospitality to those who knock at the door. Many of us feel as though the closets must all be straight and the dishwasher cleared. Many of us leave personal items in the rooms we will share with our guests, not thinking that they need to be cleared away, and we will leave the dishwasher as it is. All of us are somewhere on the spectrum of wanting to prepare for the expected guests; but what do we feel and do about those who are unexpected? Are we comfortable with the way that we live? Do we believe that we must make special preparations before we open the door to ourselves?
Christ knows our inmost secrets, so we hide nothing from him.
The Father knows our origins and our endings, so we hide nothing from The Lord.
The Spirit knows our deepest needs and desires, so we hide nothing from her.
Today, as we read about the different churches of God and how they live out the message they believe they have heard, let us reconsider what we do when we see a friend or a stranger approaching our door. Let us consider that there is nothing we can hide or put away that God does not already see and know. And let us consider that it is the open mind that receives new insight from God, it is the open heart that is made new in Christ, and it is open arms that receive the peace and serenity of the Spirit that is God’s gift to each of us.
When the knocking comes to our own door today – as it comes to us each day – do we hear the voice? Do we open ourselves freely? Do we dine with the Lord willingly? And do we allow God’s transformation to take place in us happily?
A Favorite written on July 19, 2010.
To read more about the seven churches, click on the names of the seven cities above to see where they are located and what traits they characterize in our own story.
Image from: http://mountgraceconvent.blogspot.com/2011/10/knocking-at-door.html
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