The Second Week of Advent: Wednesday

Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory.
Selah

(Psalm 24.7-10)
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Psalm 23, the most familiar of all psalms, ends with this affirmation of faith: "And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long." The author's focus is on the Temple, the dwelling place of God, where the true and living God met with his people. Today's reading from the next psalm, Psalm 24, picks up this theme and presents a gathering song for worship at the Temple...

• Proclaiming that the God who meets with his covenant people is the Creator God, who made heaven and earth (vv. 1-2).

• Setting forth what it means to belong to the company of those who would come before him in worship (vv. 3-6).

• Anticipating the advent of God's presence as he enters the Temple in power and glory (vv. 7-10).

This same God, the King of Glory, is the One we worship. We, the company of those who seek him, also desire that he form and transform us into holy worshipers. We too eagerly anticipate his marvelous appearing.

Of course, at Christmastide, he comes in quite the unexpected fashion! The King of glory, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, the Lord of hosts descends in a most curious disguise—that of a helpless infant in a cattle stall, who will grow up to demonstrate the even mightier power of love and self-giving.

Infant holy, Infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging Angels singing, Noels ringing, Tidings bringing:
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.

Traditional Polish carol
Translated by Edith M. G. Reed, 1925