Joy, throwing open doors

Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;

Now ye hear of endless bliss; Jesus Christ was born for this;

He has opened heaven’s door, and we are blest forevermore.

Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!

---Heinrich Suso

This carol always reminds me of the Psalm that begins, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name.” Christian friends, let us celebrate Christ’s birth with our whole beings, all of ourselves, all God has given us being offered back to God in rejoicing. And what endless bliss do we hear of? That Christ was born to open heaven’s door. I find this a fascinating and welcoming picture --- Jesus throwing open the doors that the religious establishment of the day sought so diligently to keep closed.

 If we are honest, we would admit that we now make up the religious establishment, such as it is, and we’re not always comfortable with open doors. Matter of fact, aren't we oftentimes happy with deciding when the doors are open, and to whom? Almost like we forgot that they are not our doors? 

Despite our sometimes ambivalent spirits, Christ is still throwing open doors, offering the fellowship of the Kingdom to all.

Cause for joy --- Christ within us.