At the gates of the Destination

Advent 2024: A Pilgrimage of Hope - the Commission of the Journey!

First Thursday in Advent - December 05, 2024

Isaiah 26: 1-6; Matthew 7: 21, 24-27

 

The commissioning of a journey, with its destination well defined, needs to also single out the way to reach the gates of the destination. The image of the “gates,” stand out in the Word today and that augurs well for the discourse that we are having these days – to enter the Reign.

The way to enter the gate is not to stand around and cry out to the Lord; it is simply   knowing the will of the Lord and being ready to translate it into action in our daily lives. Doing the will of God gives me the “gate pass” and the gate is always open for those who have been with the Word and the Will of the Father.  This indicated way is the sure ground to remain in the Lord – the rock that makes our hopes come true.

Being pilgrims of hope is not going anyway and anywhere blindly believing we will reach the Lord and enter the Reign. The way is determined. And before anything, one needs to know the way: know the Word, listen to the Word and understand what the Word requires on a daily basis, in the concrete situations of life. 

It would not suffice to know! The further step is to act on what I know. There is no other way for reaching and entering the gates of the Reign. Although the gates are open wide for me, out of the love that God has for me, I need to have the ticket to enter and that is my life based on the Word – which is compared to a house built on the rock. The Rock will never fail me!