Throw open the doors to Christ.... do not be afraid.

 

These words, my dear friends, were pronounced some twenty years ago by Pope John Paul II on the day of his inauguration as the Vicar of Christ on earth.  They were spoken to the whole world and I was present there in St. Peters in Rome to hear them ring out loud and clear, bringing a freshness and vibrancy to the message of salvation.  “Throw open the doors to Christ.... do not be afraid.”

 

It has often struck me, as I travel the streets and roads of this diocese and indeed of this Country, that beyond the closed door of every home there is a story; a story that is personal to every family, to every person; a story that is to be respected because it is part and parcel of the intimacy of every person, of every family.  It may be a story of joy and achievement, of pain, suffering and delusion, of bereavement and loss.  Whatever the story it is the record of the human condition in which all of us live.  The story may still be unfolding, may still have to be told or even experienced.  The stresses and strains of human living leave their mark on every home, on every family.  And so beyond the doors of every home there is a sacred place that must be acknowledged and respected, a place made precious by those who live there.

But as I pass by that closed door, as I acknowledge the sacred place that is beyond, I continue to marvel at the fact that there is someone there at the door, yes he’s knocking, he’s seeking entry into the intimacy of a home, he’s interested in hearing that story, his interested in sharing his story.  “I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in, sit down at table with him....” (Apoc. 3.20) If we invite someone to sit at table with us to share a meal we usually share more than a meal.  We engage in conversation, we often share our stories, our experiences.  If our guest is a good listener, is non-threatening we tend to be more open, more responsive.  If there is any problem to be unfolded, to be shared and if the guest is open and sympathetic then the atmosphere created has a healing effect.  But if the guest, besides being open and sympathetic, has the solution to the problem then a bond is created that goes well beyond our wildest dreams and establishes a pervasive spirit of harmony, peace and reconciliation, not only in the home and within the family but in the community at large.

 

It takes courage to open the door to that special Guest, especially if we have kept it closed to Him for a long time - and we all have closed the door of our home, of our heart to Him many times.  We might have reached the stage when we think He wouldn’t even be interested in coming in.  We might even convince ourselves of this or we might say we have more important things to do.  Let us always remember it is we who control the handle of the door.  He does not force His way in but He stands outside and knocks.  That knock may be heard gently or in forceful ways.  But heard it will be and the challenge is there always: “Throw open the doors to Christ... do not be afraid.”

 

During these days of Lent Jesus stands at the door of every heart, of every home and knocks.  He waits patiently for an opening, for a welcome.  He has all the time in the world to listen, to talk, to love, to heal.  All he needs is that willingness to dialogue, to engage.  He will know if His Presence is welcome, is recognised.  He will know if a person really wants to get in touch with Him.  Remember the Gospel Story of the lady who had suffered for twelve years and had not found a cure.  She was in a crowd around Jesus and could only reach in and touch His garment.  Her touch was genuine, her touch was the opening of the door of her life to the One who really cared. “Who touched me?”  He said. (c.f. Mk 5.25-34) He knew power had gone out from Him.  Many would have touched Him in the crowd because of their closeness to Him but she, the old lady, had touched him in faith and she was healed.

 

My dear friends, you who hear this letter, you who read this letter, could you open the door to Jesus this Lent?  Could you welcome Him into your home, your heart?  Could you reach out and touch Him?  Oh! You’ll ask me: “How can I do that?”  You can do it by listening to Him, by speaking to Him.  But you’d say; “What will I say to Him?”  Tell Him He’s welcome, tell Him your story since you have welcomed Him into that sacred place which is your heart, your home.  Yes, it means being open to prayer, personal and family prayer.  That is how you engage Jesus, that is how you touch Him.  And, by the way, He will help you to pray.  No matter who you are, no matter how far you think you have gone away from God because of your life-style, your heart and your home can become truly a place of prayer, of welcome to Jesus, and His power of healing will be felt in the very depths of your being.  And the healing power will become pervasive in your home and in your community.  That is the gift I pray you will receive this Lent, the gift of welcoming Jesus into your heart, into your home, of engaging in dialogue with Him, of really touching Him in faith.  But it can only happen if you pay heed to His knocking, if you turn the handle of your door and if you really welcome Him in.  And so: “Throw open the doors to Christ... do not be afraid”.

  There are moments in the life of every family when Jesus knocks on the door: moments of great joy when a new child, the fruit of love, is welcomed and baptised; the First Communion and Confirmation occasions which touch so intimately the life of a family; moments of academic and sporting achievements which boost the morale of every family; the choice of vocation in life leading to the great family occasion of a wedding ceremony or to a Religious Profession or a Priestly Ordination.  These are moments when Jesus knocks gently and seeks an open door.  They are moments of Grace.

 

There are also moments of heart-rending pain; suffering and bereavement; the sickness of dear ones or of oneself; the sudden and tragic death of a family member or friend; the pain of failure or the delusion of disappointment.  These are moments when Jesus knocks at the door more forcefully and seeks entrance.  His healing presence is a saving grace.  All He wants to do is to show the Divine Mercy that flows from His Heart, all He wants to give is a special grace of being reconciled to God through Him, all He asks is that you open the door whenever He knocks.  And knock He certainly will.

 

My dear friends, on Ash Wednesday, St. Paul spoke to us and said: “Be reconciled to God... now is the favourable time” (2 Cor. 5:20-6:2).  This process of reconciliation begins within oneself, begins by reaching out and touching Jesus, by opening oneself to the power of his Divine Mercy.  I could not recommend a better way to begin this process than by encouraging you to engage Jesus in prayer.  If you are one whose life has become somewhat absorbed in work that you do not seem to have time to pray, remember it just takes a moment to tune into Jesus and that moment is worth an eternity.  It may be on the web-site, in the shop, on the farm, in the hospital or whatever your occupation may be, there is always an invitation to stop for a moment, to hear him knocking, to open and to pray.  This will lead to a transformation of your life and to an experience which will become part of your story.  Do not miss the opportunity this Lent.  The gift of reconciliation is yours for the taking.  Make sure that it does not pass you by.  Make of this Lent a unique preparation for the celebration of Easter, when you can join with all the Community of faithful in thanking God and in sharing with others the greatest story you will ever tell.

 

“Throw open the doors to Christ.... do not be afraid”.

 

 

 

 

+ John Magee

   Bishop of Cloyne.