Reflections for Sunday
Dedication of St John Lateran - November 9, 2003
A Meditation on Psalm 84
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts.
Lord, your house is beautiful to me. Its beauty is not in its bricks and glass and color and light; nor in its solemn ritual, stirring words, and joyous singing; nor in its hearty fellowship. All these are good, but your house is beautiful because you dwell there. Your love is so great that you come down from heaven and dwell with us. You are not a distant god. You are near.
My soul longs for the courts of the Lord.
Lord, I come to your house seeking you. I live in an unredeemed world. It gives little comfort. It offers no lasting hope. It is never at peace. My soul is not satisfied with this earthly life. It longs to be made whole, to be reconciled, to be fulfilled. I am on a journey. I stop at your house along the way for rest and encouragement. Then I press on, looking forward to the day when I will enter the courts of heaven.
My heart sings for joy to the living God.
Lord, at rare moments I am touched by your love and filled with pure joy. I can barely hold your love inside at such moments. I want to shout for joy and break into song. These are moments of grace, given so that I will not lose heart. They are a foretaste of the joy of heaven.
One day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
Lord, nothing in this world can compare with your love. But like all your children, I seek comfort in earthly things. I am rooted in the world. A part of me longs to be freed of every other desire and give myself entirely to you. But I am an earthly man, weighed down by the flesh. I look forward to the day when the forces within me will be put to rest by your loving hand, and I will be at peace with you.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than to live in the tents of wickedness.
Lord, I am not worthy of a high place in your kingdom. You have blessed me with a deep knowledge of your love for me, but I do not live in a manner worthy of your love. You have given me much; you expect much. I have fallen short. But if you would give me a place at the door, or washing the feet, or serving at table, I would be grateful. For then at least I could look upon your face. And that would be enough for me.