When I went to Mass yesterday morning, our priest asked for a show of hands from everyone who felt they were all prepared for Christmas.

I raised my hand. Then he led everyone in prayer, suggesting that everyone spend a few moments of quiet time to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us if there was anything else we needed to do to prepare for Christmas. It didn’t take long for the answer to come to me.

Recently, I was asked to write daily Scripture guides for Liturgical Press’ Loose-leaf Lectionary for the 2020 Lenten season. So I have spent the last few days reflecting on Scripture and writing daily reflections. All the meditations I’ve written have so far have highlighted themes of repentance, examination of conscience, confession of sins, and God’s mercy and forgiveness.

As I sat there in silence, the message I received was this: I wasn’t ready for Christmas yet—I needed to go to Confession.

The message was further reinforced when the choir director led everyone in “Somebody’s Knocking At Your Door” a few minutes later. As I approached the altar for to receive the Eucharist, I heard these words:

Somebody’s knocking at your door,
Somebody’s knocking at your door,
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knocking at your door.

Knocks like Jesus,
Somebody’s knocking at your door.

Knocks like Jesus
Somebody’s knocking at your door,
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knocking at your door …

Can’t you trust Him?

Somebody’s knocking at your door.

Can’t you trust Him?

Somebody’s knocking at your door …

At that point in the song, I started laughing to myself because the message had been so obvious all along. I couldn’t believe how long it had taken for me to answer the door—especially after all the recent focus on confession and penance in my daily meditations. Sometimes my skull is a little thick, and Jesus had to knock pretty hard to get in!

Credit: Jenny Cromie

After returning to my pew, I resolved to talk to our priest after Mass to find out if he had time to hear my Confession. The Holy Spirit made it all possible (of course) when the priest—before his final blessing—said that he was going to be available for Confession after Mass. A few minutes later, I left the church feeling a lot lighter and much more prepared for Christmas. Now I have more room in my “inn.” Why?

Jesus was knocking and I finally let him in!