ENTERING THE STRONG CITY


THURSDAY, FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT

Isa 26:1-6; Ps 116:1,8-9,19-21,25-27; Mt 7:21,24-27

Those who enter the Strong City

The prophet Isaiah foretells the singing of a new song in the land of Judah due to the coming of the Messiah. It is a Messianic song, for the song will praise the wonders of God in the lives of his people in the sending of the Messiah. The coming of the Messiah reveals God’s faithfulness and love for his people. The understanding of this truth would cause the faithful to rejoice in the providence of God. “That day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; to guard us he has set wall and rampart about us. Open the gates! Let the upright nation come in, she, the faithful one whose mind is steadfast, who keeps the peace, because she trusts in you.” The city is made strong by the presence of God, who comes to rescue his people from sins and evil enemies. The love of the Father, which the Messiah brings to light, makes the fainthearted leap with joy and feel protected. The presence of the Lover is like a rampart around the beloved. The wall and rampart are visible to the faithful alone because they see them only through the eyes of faith and not by physical eyes. The wonders of God are visible to the faithful, for they see and receive them in the word of God.

The prophet indicates that the faithful nation is not located in a single geographical place by his call for the gates to be opened to let in the faithful nation. If the faithful nation were a single people, they would not need to proceed to another city. God populates the faithful nation from all nations, and they enter the strong city by their faith in the Messiah, who is the foundation of this secure city. All who enter the new city do so through faith and loving trust in God’s powerful providence. “Trust in the Lord for ever, for the Lord is the everlasting Rock.” Those who receive the Messiah who comes in our human nature enter the city of God in faith. Because they behold the Messiah as the constant Sun who illuminates the city, they rejoice in the safety he provides and make of their lives a song of thanksgiving to God for the banquet of rich food and fine wines. The season of Advent is here for us to renew this holy mindset. Meditating and re-evaluating our Christian life in the light of these prophecies given before the coming of Jesus Christ helps us see our Christian life and liturgical celebrations in a new light and appreciate God’s wonderful works among us. The contemplation of the word of God anew helps us to enter the city of God through the gates of holiness.

Our Lord gave us a condition for entering the new city, the kingdom of heaven. His statement supports the prophet’s statement that the Lord is the solid foundation for the new city. “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.” God opened the eternal gates of the heavenly city when he sent his Son in our human nature. By appearing in our nature, he revealed the will of the Father to us. The gates were closed when we chose to do our own will in disobedience to the Father’s will. It is one thing to open the eternal gates and another for the ones invited to the heavenly banquet to walk through the gates into the strong city. The Lord's statement reveals why it is called the gates of holiness; only those eager and determined to do the Father’s will enter and dwell therein. “Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock.” Let us reinforce our house by re-evaluating our lives with these prophetic messages this holy season of Advent.

Let us pray: Stir up your power, O Lord, and come to our help with mighty strength, that what our sins impede, the grace of your mercy may hasten. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.  

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