Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock

I will use myself as an example of this sermon.

Jesus was knocking on my heart through family members and my schooling during my early years of life. For example, my mom was brought up in a religious household and her prayers and guidance have been a major influence in my life. Attending mass on Sundays and holy days was standard practice. 
In addition, when I transferred to Sacred Heart School in Worcester Ma for grades 6-8, I developed a prayer life with a deep respect for my Catholic faith. The Sisters of Mercy taught us to sacrifice our nickels and dimes to rescue Korean War orphans. The red thermometer pasted on the chalkboard kept rising each week until it reached the $5.00 rescue goal for each orphan. Giving to the missions became a reality for me.

For example, I recall the after school movies on Friday afternoon in the church hall with Fr. Bergen. Ivanhoe comes to mind as one of the movies. Since the school, church and church hall were near each other, our class moved from one to the other during the school day on various occasions.

One of those special occasions occurred on the First Friday of each academic month. We would leave the classroom to march in line to Sacred Heart Church for Mass and adoration of The Blessed Sacrament with the elderly pastor. The Latin adoration hymns remind me of my childhood experiences during my formative years at Sacred Heart School.
Kneeling upright without slouching was a sign of respect during adoration.

Some of my classmates needed a few clicks from the nun on patrol duty. She had a special device in her hand that made a clicking sound that was used for various signals. In church, the clicks could mean keep quiet, pay attention to the priest or do not slouch while kneeling.

A few clicks usually snapped the class to attention in the pews.

These experiences with the Sisters of Mercy as our classroom teachers provided a nurturing atmosphere for me with the emphasis on prayer, the Mass and learning The Baltimore Catechism in question and answer format. Rote learning has its place in education like learning the times table in math.

Question: Why did God make you?
Answer: 
God made me to know Him, to love Him , and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.

My special love for Our Blessed Mother Mary developed during these years. I learned the power of prayer especially through the rosary. My grandmother used to say rosary novenas whenever mom and dad had heated arguments. Consequently, rosary novenas became a part of my life as I continue to offer them for different intentions. In the process, I was developing my spirituality and drawing closer to Jesus.

In effect, my going to mass became an important part of my life. After marriage, I recall going to mass on Sundays and my Jewish wife stayedng home with the young children.

My flashbulb memory takes me back to a few instances when I opened the door of my heart to Jesus. When I was a young teacher in a junior high school, I became friendly with an on fire for Jesus colleague named Mitch who gave me a printed copy of biblical passages entitled the Roman Road to Salvation.
We both taught English and our classrooms were near each other. He invited me to one of his services in a local Baptist Church where he played the organ. His influence on my life helped me to develop a closer relationship with Christ. He took evangelization seriously and I was on his “radar screen”.
A year later, Mitch honored me by playing the organ at my wedding. We had become close Christian friends and I felt his prayerful influence and loving heart for years until his death.
After marrying my Jewish high school sweetheart, I prayed for unity in our marriage. After seven years, circumstances converged to the point of conversion. Jesus knocked loudly on Marcia’s heart in the presence of a priest who was visiting my neighbor. The priest’s friendly manner helped her to accept Christ into her heart.
With Christ molding us, we accepted an invitation from friends to experience a Marriage Encounter (ME) weekend retreat, a game changer for us. Again, Jesus was knocking on the door because the depth of Christ’s love poured out on that weekend. We experienced healing of emotions that had built up in our strained relationship over family illnesses.
The door stayed open for years as we communicated in a disciplined daily writing and dialogue time for each other. We joined a support group of like-minded married couples who met in each other’s homes regularly for over 30 years where we read our love letters to each other in a social setting.
Our hearts were open to volunteer in programs using our gifts and talents such as instructing couples in a premarital program for many years.
In addition, The Holy Spirit deepened our marital and personal relationship during the Charismatic Renewal when the spiritual wave of the Holy Spirit touched our hearts.
In conclusion, my highlighted experiences describe my faith walk that continues on this earthly pilgrimage. Each one of us has a separate faith walk with a door to open for Christ to enter.
Perhaps your door is slightly opened with obstacles in the way.
Sometimes the loud door knocks may include a crisis in our lives, such as sickness, death of loved ones, marital breakup, or economic problems.
Take the time to think about those key moments in your life when Christ was/is knocking on the door of your heart. Opening the door all the way is life changing.