During Ash Wednesday’s homily, I talked about the door in the gospel. The door of our private room where he can pray (and pretty much also fast and give alms) to the Father who sees in private.

What drew my attention to that door was a book I’ve been reading by Cardinal Roche, The Gardens of God. He talks about that door and relates it to all the doors in the Scriptures—the door to Eden guarded by the cherubim once Adam and Eve are thrown out, the doors mentioned by the prophets, the doors in Jesus’ parables, ending with the door in Revelation: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”

What doors do we want to close or open this Lent? Doors to sin and temptation? Doors to bad habits and wasted time? Doors to a deeper sense of prayer and adoration? Doors to the confessional that will help us experience mercy and freedom? Doors to friends or strangers that need our compassion and help? Doors to new and more generous ways of living our Christian lives?

This Lent, as every day of our lives, Christ stands at the door and knocks. Will we lift the latch and let him in? Will we close the door to sin and welcome his light and grace?