Open Wide the Doors!

Back at the turn of the Millennium, 1999 to 2000, the Church had declared a "Holy Year," with the theme, "Open Wide the Doors to Christ." Parishes were encouraged to have a holy door that could be opened for the occasion. I was the associate pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Hays and I had a doorframe designed that could be used for the holy door. What a great joy it was to open the door for the new year and open the door to the proclamation of the gospel. I think about that time when I listen to the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, 5:17-26. The Apostles were thrown in the public jail because of the message that they were preaching. During the night, the Angel of the Lord appeared and open the door of the jail and had the Apostles go back to the temple area. Can you imagine the look on the authorities faces when they discovered the Apostles were gone and were back preaching the Good News? This shows that the word of God cannot be contained or confined. The gospel is meant to be proclaimed, not just with words, but with our very lives. Open Wide the Doors to Christ and the proclamation of the Good News. Do not be afraid because the Risen Lord is with us at all times and he will give us the grace and strength that we need to be his witnesses and messengers in the world. Have a blessed day!!!