Opening the Door
Church doors are often large and
cumbersome to open. There is great symbolism in the doors of a church. Sometimes
they include frescoes depicting the whole of salvation history on the
m.
In the ancient liturgy there was a point at which the deacon would call out to
the congregation, The doors, the doors! the ushers would ensure that the doors
had been barred so the uninitiated could not enter or be present to witness the
sacred mysteries that were about to unfold. This ancient ritual exists today
when we witness the catechumens being dismissed before the recitation of the
creed.
The church may or may not have ornate doors, but the symbolism of what the door
signifies remains. Sometimes you will see the image of Christ holding a lamb on
His shoulders painted or depicted in stained glass over the front doors of a
church. This reminds us that Jesus said, I am the door; if any one enters by
me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
Now it might be good to stop right here, Jesus says that if anyone enters
through Him, that person will be saved. Here is the question you should ask
yourself as you approach the door: what is it that Jesus is going to save me
from?
So here we encounter the first image of Christ the door. Someone may open it
for us, or we may open it ourselves, but we should be mindful that as we pass
through this threshold, it is as though we are grasping a life preserver,
something that our very existence depends upon.
Holy Water
Near the door or in the center of the space you enter into, you will find one or
two sacred items: a holy water font or a baptismal font. The first is a small
object, meant to be a miniature holder and reminder of the other.
This water is blessed. It is holy. Ideally, it was blessed at the Easter Vigil
for the express purpose of being used in the baptizing of the catechumens. The
water then was placed in containers or kept in the baptismal font. In either
case, it is appropriate that this water of baptism is the first sacred matter
you encounter as you pass through the doors into the church. This water is the
price of your admission.
At your baptism you, your parents, or your godparents vowed that you would die
to sin and live for Christ. Have you done that? At this moment where is your
mind? What are you concerned about? Is it Christ?