Rev 3: 1-6, 14-22
‘And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars:
‘I know your works; you have a name for being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is at the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember then what you received and heard; obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. Yet you have still a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
‘And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin* of God’s creation:
‘I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.” You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. I reprove and discipline those whom I love.
Be earnest, therefore, and repent. 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.’
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
How Do We Hear Jesus’ Knock?
Much of the Book of Revelation is difficult text, which cannot and should not be taken literally.
Yet, interspersed in the text are verses which seem to leap off the page as living words from the mouth of Christ.
We hear one today: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears and opens, I will come in and dine with them, and they with me.”
Jesus is at the door. We need only open the door. Jesus will do the rest.
As we approach the end of the liturgical year, we remember that everything in the Gospel, Scripture, and all of creation, is aimed at this one thing: to hear the voice of Jesus and, when we do, to stay with him.
Today, let us be attentive to the many forms that Jesus’s knock takes: in our hearts, in worship, and through the people right in front of us.
—Ryen Dwyer, SJ, is a Jesuit from the Midwest Province studying theology at Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California.
Prayer
Jesus, I thank you for coming to the door of our hearts and asking our permission to enter. Please teach me how to listen for your knock, and please show me the door at which you are waiting. Let me not respond to you with fear, as can happen when an unexpected knock comes at the door, but let me be rooted in your post-resurrection words: “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid.”
—Ryen Dwyer, SJ