Psalm Reflection: The Fourth Sunday of Advent - Cycle A

“Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.” - Psalm 24

“Password?” said the man behind the small opening in the door.

“Royale with Cheese,” I said. I could hear and see the excitement from my group of friends at how awesome this night was going to be. I had planned a fun night weekend of hidden gems and experiences, and this was our first stop. As I was reflecting on this Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm I was brought brought to the front door of this modern take on an old speakeasy and reflected on these words: “let the Lord enter.”

I wondered if the door to my life is always open to God, or if at times I shut it and only open it on my terms when the right password or situation is presented to me. 

What about you?

We all put up walls and boundaries to protect ourselves. We have been hurt in the past and we do not want to be hurt in the future. As a result, we hold people at a safe distance until they prove trustworthy. However, there is no door that can keep God out and He can see past every single wall we construct. Yet, He respects our free will and will not go where He is not invited.

Does Jesus have the password to your heart?

Does He have the master key to unlock every door of your life?

I feel like it is sometimes easier to hold back from God or keep Him at a distance because He is intangible. We cannot see Him in the same way we see each other, and as a result we can contain Him in our own safe, comfortable images of Him. 

We can keep our image of God the Father safe up in Heaven or in the clouds.

We can keep our image of Jesus as a man in the past. 

Or maybe we keep Jesus safe and contained in the Eucharist and only encounter Him for the one portion of the day or the week when we are at Mass, otherwise He is locked away in a tabernacle and we go on with our lives.

That is why I love the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit cannot be contained.

The Holy Spirit is God and is a person for us to know and encounter, but all the symbolism we have for Him is not safe or easily contained: fire, wind, a dove, etc.

Tongues of fire only appear in a large, uncontrollable fire.

A rushing wind cannot grasped or captured.

Even a dove is hard to contain—have you ever had to be the person to get a bird outside when it accidentally flies indoors? They are not easy to contain!

I think this is why God revealed Himself as Spirit, so that we could not hide safely behind our doors and passwords anymore. The Spirit wants to blow into your life with beautiful power and grace, and once you open that door it is not easily closed.

As we journey through this final week of Advent, open your heart to the Holy Spirit. Let your guard down and be honest in prayer with God. Tell Him exactly where you are, what you need, and what worries you. Invite Him into every corner and aspect of your life and let go of the steering wheel for a change. The Holy Spirit will lead you to a life that abundantly full and overflowing into those around you, but only if you let Him in. 

So, let the Lord enter, because He is the king of glory.

I am praying for you, please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt