3. DOOR/GATE
DOOR/GATE
A door or gate is threshold between the outside the and inside, today and tomorrow, between the sacred at t and profane. There are doors not only in this world but we speak of the "door of heaven", "gates of hell" etc. When we go out through door of this life, we are entering through another door to after-life. According to ancient legends of various countries, there are gate keepers for heaven and the Hades.
When Jacob had a dream in the desert, he said "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the House of God, and this is the gate of heaven" (Gen 28: 17). Hezekiah, King of Judah said: "In the noontide G of my days I must depart; I am consigned to the gates ( of Sheol for the rest of my years" (Isa 38: 10).
The empty place near to main gate of a city was centre of public life. That was a place for legal trials and judgements (Ruth 4: 1; 2 Sam 15: 2; Job 31: 21) Taking possession of a gate meant taking possession of the entire city. "God loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob" (Ps 87: 2). "To sit al the king's gate" (Esth 2:19. 21; 3: 3) meant to be a confidant of the king.
In the New Testament, the door/gate has eschatological significance, entrance into eternal life Jesus was once asked, "Lord will only a few be saved?"
He said: Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door saying, 'Lord, open to us', then in reply be will say to you, 'I do not know where you come from" (Lk 13: 23-25). Also in the Parable of the Ten Virgins, the foolish virgins who stand outside shall knock at the door and plead "Lord, Lord, open to us. But he replied: Truly I tell you, I do not know you" (Mt 25: 11).
We have the greatest symbol of the door/gate when Jesus claimed: "I am the door; whoever enters by me shall find salvation" (Jn 10: 7).
The expression "God opened the door of faith for the Gentiles" meant God gave them a chance to be saved (Acts 14: 27). Apostle Paul requested the Colossians to pray for him, so that "God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ..." (Col 4: 3). This is to be understood in conjunction with 1 Cor 16: 9: "for a wide door for effective work has opened to me". In the first instance, Paul is requesting prayers for the gift of preaching the word, whereas in the second case, it is about real opportunity for fruitful mission work.
In the Book of Revelation, Jesus addressing the Community of Laodicea says: "Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you and youwith me" (Rev 3: 20). Dining with Christ means to have communion with him.
St. Ambrose compares the eastern door of the Temple of Jerusalem to Mary. It was usually closed which expresses the virginity of Mary. This doo was toward the East, as she has borne the 'Sun d Righteousness' (Mal 4: 2) (Cfr. M. Lurker, op cit. p. 329).
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Cf:
Abraham Mar Julios, Biblical Symbols. (Bengaluru: Theological Publications in India, 2020), 50-52.
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