Come In

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, December 18th, 2022:
​Fourth Sunday of Advent

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Psalm 24
R. May the Lord come in; he is king of glory.

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. 

R. May the Lord come in; he is king of glory.

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Someone who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up their soul to what is false. 

R. May the Lord come in; he is king of glory.

That person will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation. Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. 

R. May the Lord come in; he is king of glory.

Before the music begins, the scribe lets us know that this is a song of David — a lyric written in a certain place and time, a song sung by a particular people. As they sang this song, how did they picture it? 

How did they picture Him, this coming King?

Like David before the ark?
    Dancing
Like a monarch arrayed in robes?
    Dignified
Like the ocean with boundless breadth?
    Powerful

How did they picture them, the people drawing near to this Glory?

Like the Levites prepared in ritual?
    Purified
Like the prophets consoled by ravens?
    Whole-hearted
Like the chosen people gathered in ranks?
    Preferred

As they sang this song for centuries, could anyone have seen
    a shelter for animals 
    a dark night and the simplicity of starlight
    the solitude of a man and a woman?

Could anyone have seen, as the King of Glory came in
    the arms of a carpenter receiving a King
    handing Him to His young mother supported by straw
    her eyes as she lifted Him close 
        and kissed the face of the God of Jacob

And those who drew near to this Glory?
    beasts, their warm breath lifting mist like incense
    shepherds, carrying the scent of the hills 
        and the truth of the angels
    foreigners, starting to travel, drawn by a light,
        with royal gifts to lay on a dirt floor 

    and me,

    I cannot contain this truth

I can come close because He comes in
I can ascend because He came down
I can stand because He knelt drawing in the dust
I can receive because He gave Himself 
I can seek His face
    because He turns toward me




Noreen Smith

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