Psalm 24

May the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the holy spirit be with all of us.  

Dear Congregation,

'Macht hoch die Tür, die Tor macht weit'.   'Open the door, widen the Gate'.  This is the first song in out hymnbook.  The song itself is also a door: a door to the time of advent and a door to faith.  Advent is the four Sundays before Christmas.  

The young people who had been confirmed who are mostly from the German school, told us what it felt like when doors are closed.  The first day of advent is a movement in the opposite direction.  It is all about the opening of doors.  It is not about any door.  It is all about the doors of heaven.  Heaven itself is opened.  

It is a well known fact that this song is about Psalm 24.  The history behind the song is less known.  Because the song is now 400 years old – it was written in 1623 -  a lot of research had been done about its origin.  Old histories were published.  The song originated in Germany at the time when the 30-year war had already been going on for 5 years. The song comes from East Prussia and found its way to us.  

Maybe it came to us with all the people who were driven out of Prussia and who had no one to open doors for them.  The refugees out of Prussia often stood in front of locked doors and locked hearts.  My own mother was one of them.  

But in Konigsberg, where this song has its origin, there lived two people who first opened their hearts and then their doors.  

The first one: The road to the church was a long one for some people.  They had to go on foot and it was difficult.  There was a shortcut that they could take.  But the shortcut took them over the property of a wealthy landowner, Mr Sturgis who was a famous seller of mink coats.    His property was fenced in.  He did not want the poor people to cross his property.  The beautiful song   'Open the door, widen the Gate'  touched his heart and he opened his gates for the people to make the shortcut.

The second story:  A church in Altroßgärter had just been built.  The official opening would take place in a few day's time on the 2^ndadvent.  It was extremely cold.  An icy wind was blowing.  People had nowhere to find shelter against the wind.  The church sexton heard about their plight.  He decided to open the doors of the new church to let them shelter in there.  Even before the official opening.  The pastor, George Weissel heard about it and he praised his sexton for what he had done: gave the people shelter.  He had shown what love and compassion was all about.

Sometimes an incident like this is necessary to inspire people to show compassion.   The school principal, Manuel Haß told us about the establishment of the German school in Pretoria.  A few people believed that a German school would open doors for many children.  Their faith led them to this   opinion.  

In the tradition of our church Psalm 24 is suitable for the first advent.  

Originally in the Jewish tradition,  Psalm 24 was read at the beginning of the week.  Like the German school begin the week with a short devotional, the Jewish community started their week week with a devotional commemorating their creator.   Before we start our working week, we should remind ourselves that God is working already. 

At the beginning of the week we should ask ourselves: who shall move into my heart?  Who or what shall have space in my heart?  Who or what shall lead me?  

The answer is clear:  I shall let myself be led by the Lord of Glory.  The Lord with all his greatness can move into Jerusalem through a very small opening.  God can make himself so small that he can move from the wide expense of the heavens into the narrow world.    

God – the overwhelming enthroned creator, the ruler over everything – can fit into the heart of man.  He moves into our hearts.  And there he stays.  He does that in the whole wide world.  

There in our hearts  he is shining so that we in our turn can open our hearts so that we can conquer our fears and can trust that it will stay that way.  That even in times of war people will open their hearts.  

In Pretoria we can open the gates of our schools so that possibilities can be there for many children.  

Let us keep the doors and gates of our schools and churches open.  Let our churches and schools be places where hope can grow for all who need it.  

In this time of advent, let our young people tell stories not of doors closed before them but stories of joy and of  doors opening for them  

The peace of God that is higher as all reason, beware our hearts and minds in Jesus Christ.  Amen