OPEN THE DOORS
The Gospel of John describes with dark brushstrokes the situation of the Christian community when it’s lacking the Risen Christ in its center. Without his living presence, the Church becomes a group of men and women who go about «in a house with the doors locked, out of fear of the Jews».
With the «locked doors» you can’t hear what’s going on outside. It’s impossible to grasp the Spirit’s action in the world. No spaces of encounter and dialogue are open for anyone. Trust in fellow humans has been extinguished and resentment and prejudice grow. But a Church without capacity to dialogue is a tragedy, since Jesus’ followers are called to put into action right now an eternal dialogue of God with human beings.
«Fear» can paralyze evangelization and block our best energies. Fear leads us to reject and condemn. With fear it’s impossible to love the world. But if we don’t love it, we aren’t looking at it as God does. And if we aren’t looking at it with God’s eyes, how will we communicate the Good News?
If we live with the doors locked, who will leave the flock in order to seek out the lost sheep? Who will dare to touch any excluded leper? Who will sit at table with sinners or prostitutes? Who will draw near to those forgotten by religion? Those who want to seek the God of Jesus will find us with the doors locked.
Our first task is to let the Risen One enter through the many barriers we raise to protect us from fear. Let Jesus occupy the center of our Churches, groups and communities. Let him alone be the source of life, of joy and of peace. Let no one occupy his place. Let no one take over his message. Let no one impose a different stye than his.
Today we don’t have the power of past times. We feel hostility and rejection all around us. We’re weak. We need more than ever to open ourselves to the encouragement of the Risen One in order to welcome his Holy Spirit.
José Antonio Pagola
Translator: Fr. Jay VonHandorf
