“Gates, lift high your heads, raise high the ancient gateways, and the king of glory shall enter! Who is he, this king of glory? It is Yahweh, strong and valiant, Yahweh valiant in battle. Gates, lift high your heads, raise high the ancient gateways, and the king of glory shall enter! Who is he, this king of glory? Yahweh Sabaoth, He is the king of glory.” (Psalm 24:7-10, New Jerusalem Bible).
Sabbath
Begin with entering into a posture of Sabbath. Shabbat can be translated “to cease” or simply “to stop.”
As we float down the stream of the Church calendar from Advent to Christmastide, contemplate on the Psalm for this Sunday. Ask the question along with the psalmist “who is this king of glory?” Consider what it might even be like to rest in that question.
Read
As you read, notice what stands out to you in the passage and share it with God; consider writing it down. Read closely two or three times. Where is God present in the text? What is He doing?
Contemplate the love of God as you read. What kind of God enters into the ancient gates of creation and puts on all of humanity? The God of love. Look for the way God’s love invades in this passage.
Behold
Take what you see in this passage and move slowly from pondering to beholding. Take and see. Behold the hope of God in our Lord Jesus.
Behold the passage eucharistically. Where is God using ordinary things to teach you about love?
- Where does this passage draw you up into love? The love that passes from Father to Son to the Holy Spirit and descends onto you.
- Where is Christ truly present in this passage?
Renewal
Our formation into Christlikeness begins with the renewal of our minds. Invite God to show you where (in your mind/thoughts, heart, body, etc.) you need to be reformed by the truth in this passage.
Our being precedes doing. It is His work in us.
- Consider how this passage might renew your thoughts.
- As the gates open up for the King of glory draws near, what are some gates that have remained closed off from this King of glory?
- How might you invite the Holy Spirit to co-labor in opening those gates to the King of glory?
Peace is a gift and the means by which we receive that gift is by the Eucharist. Anticipate the peace of Christ in His supper this coming Sunday. Expectantly await the presence of Jesus and with His presence, His peace also.
A Collect For The Second Sunday of Advent
Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (taken from the Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
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