Monday, January 19 : William of Saint-Thierry

If on earth we see two or three gathered together in your name with you, Lord, in their midst… what are we to say of that place where you have gathered your saints, who have “made a covenant with you by sacrifices”, and where “the heavens” you have made “proclaim your righteousness” (Ps 50[49],5-6)? For that Beloved Disciple of yours was not the only one to find the way to heaven, nor was the open door revealed to him alone (Rev 4,1)… Out of your own mouth to all and openly you have proclaimed: “I am the door; if anyone enters in by me, he shall be saved” (Jn 10,9). You are the door, then, Lord; and when you say: “if anyone enters in by me,” you open, apparently, to all who will. But of what use is it to us who are on earth to see the door in heaven standing open, when we cannot get up there? Saint Paul answers thus: “He who ascends is the same also as he who descended” (Eph 4,9). Who is he? He is love. For love in us mounts up to you, O Lord… because the love in you comes down to us. You, who loved us, you came down to us; by loving you we shall mount up to you. You who yourself declared: “I am the door,” by your own self I pray you, open yourself to us that you may show more clearly what house you open, and when you open, and to whom.

maronite readings – rosary,team