ACC ~ Revelation 3 v20

LET CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART. JEROME: On the other hand, God may permit us also to be kings of the earth, “kings of earth” in order to rule over our own flesh. In this connection the apostle says, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body.” In another part of Scripture it is written, “The king’s heart is in the hand of God.” … The kings, therefore, are the saints, and their hearts are in the hand of the Lord. Let us beg God to make us kings that we may rule over our flesh that it be subject to us. The following words of the apostle are appropriate here: “But I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest perhaps after preaching to others, I myself should be rejected.”May our soul be in command, our body in subjection; then Christ will come at once to make his abode with us. What does he himself say in the New Testament? “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man listens to my voice and opens the door to me, I will come in to him and will sup with him.” Every day, Christ stands at the door of our hearts. He longs to enter. Let us open wide our hearts to him. Then he will come in and be our host and guest. He will live in us and eat with us. HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 9 (PS 75).

IN GOOD WORKS THE SOUL RECEIVES CHRIST AS GUEST AND RESIDENT. CAESARIUS OF ARLES: If an earthly king or the head of a family invited you to his birthday celebration, with what kind of garments would you endeavor to adorn yourself when you approached? Surely with new and shining ones, costly ones, whose age or cheapness or ugliness could not offend the eyes of the one who invited you. Therefore, with Christ’s help, strive as much as you can with a like zeal, so that your soul may with an easy conscience approach the solemn feast of the eternal king, that is, the birthday of our Lord and Savior, if it is adorned with the decoration of various virtues. Let it be adorned with the jewels of simplicity and the flowers of temperance, gleaming chastity, shining charity and joyful almsgiving. For if Christ the Lord recognizes that you are celebrating his birthday with such dispositions, he himself will deign to come and not only visit your soul but also rest and continually dwell in it. As it is written, “I will dwell with them and walk among them”; and again, “Here I stand, knocking at the door; if anyone rises up and opens the door, I will enter his house and have supper with him, and he with me.” How happy is the soul which, with God’s help, has striven to direct his life in such a way that he may merit receiving Christ as his guest and indwelling person. SERMON 187.3.

CHRIST REVEALS A HUMBLE AND PEACEFUL NATURE. OECUMENIUS: “Behold,” he says, “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with me.” Here the Lord reveals his own humble and peaceful nature. The devil with axe and hammer smashes the doors of those who do not receive him, as the prophet said,but the Lord even now in the Song of Songs says to the bride, “Open to me, my sister, my bride.” And should someone open to him, he will come in, but if not, he goes away. That supper which is with the Lord signifies the reception of the holy mysteries. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3.14-22.

GOD DWELLS WITH HIS ELECT THROUGH HIS LOVE. BEDE: The Lord stands at the doorway and knocks when he pours into our heart the memory of his will, either through the mouth of a man who is teaching [us] or through his own internal inspiration. When his voice is heard, we open the gate to receive [him] when we willingly present our assent to [his] counsels, whether secret or open, and devote ourselves to accomplishing those things that we recognize are to be done. He comes in order to eat with us and we with him. For he dwells in the hearts of his elect through the grace of his love in order to restore them always by the light of his presence. He lives there so that they may advance more and more to heavenly desires, and so that he himself may feed their zeal for heaven, as it were, with a most pleasing banquet. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.21.

Rev