Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Advent: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 45; Evening, Psalms 47 and 48; Zechariah 2:1 to 13; Revelation 3:14 to 22; Matthew 24:32 to 44
“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” (Revelation 3: 20 – 22)
This painting of Jesus knocking at a door is well known in the Christian world, that of our Lord Jesus knocking at our door. There are many paintings of it. It is a reminder that it is our Lord Jesus who is seeking us well before we even thought about trying to find him. Many people will say after they have turned their lives around for the better that they “found Jesus.” It would be perhaps more correct to say that they finally began to follow Jesus after He found them.
No human salesperson knocks on your door, or calls you on the phone, or advertises on your computer for your “complete happiness” as their number one priority. They want your money. They are, first of all, in it for themselves. Most of them will say that the quality of their product, or your safety, is their first priority. However, if they do not make a profit they wouldn’t have a business at all. So, unless it is an organized house of faith or other charitable organization, profit is really their first priority.
Our Lord Jesus is truly looking for you for your benefit. He will never abandon you when life challenges you. He may not make whatever is happening to you go away, but he will stay with you through it. And it may be that whatever hell you are going through will end this life, and if so, our Lord Jesus will accompany you and continue to lead you on the other side. We must never give up.
This is what it means to conquer. And “To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray:
O God, help us to be more open and welcoming to Jesus as He knocks on the doors of our hearts. Help us to not only let Him in, but also to listen and obey Him as He leads us to our eternal home with You in that heavenly realm where we may live in joy and felicity forever and ever. Amen
onewhoponders 