St. Francis has an exquisite saying, “God is always courteous and does not invade the privacy of the human soul.” That is the truth expressed in the text. He knocks and asks admission. The Divine wants the human. Everything depends on the faithful “if.” As Holman Hunt said of his picture, “The latch is on the inside.” God knocks and pleads, but does not invade. He is a wooer, but not a house breaker. He would have us, not His puppets and pawns, but His children, subject to His persuasion and discipline. You can keep Him outside if you so wish.
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