Word for Word 12/16/20

Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg
Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg

Happy Advent: Preparing for Christmas

The mental image created by the famous painting by Holman Hunt, “I stand at the door and knock” is the one that I enjoy thinking and praying about. I hope you will join me in your prayer life. Holman Hunt took the idea from Revelations.

The painting depicts our Lord Jesus standing before this large door with vines growing around the door and our Lord has his hand extended toward the door knocking.

When Holman Hunt finished the painting, he invited his fellow artists to critique the painting. They were loud in their praise of his artistic talent. Then one of them remarked that he had forgotten to place a knob on the door. Holman replied, “This door is the door of the human heart and it opens only from within.”

The only time that I had the privilege to view this painting is when it was displayed in Keble College at Oxford in England. It has from that moment caused me to ponder the meaning of this painting in prayer and ask the question, “Have I really opened the door of my heart to my Lord Jesus Christ?” Have I truly invited Him into my life to be the centrality of my life - my thoughts, my words, my action? The King, Galatians 2:20, came alive in my life. “I have been crucified with Christ and yet I am alive. Yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me.”

I pray that this is what will happen to me when I open the door to Him. Please join me in this journey during the Advent Season. Then Christians will have a whole new meaning, “Emanuel” God is with us.

Love Ya, Dear Friends,
Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg