“Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain?” (Psalm 15:1).

The Psalmist tells us the character of such a person — walks without blame, does what is right, speaks truth from the heart, does not slander, does not harm a friend nor slander their neighbor, disdains the wicked, and lives a life charity. It is a call to action. We must pick up and walk in such a way that is pleasing to the Lord. It is an internal movement that we live in outward signs of faith, hope, and charity. Our hope, our goal is to reach that mountain — the divine abode.

The Old Testament is a pilgrimage, a journey toward God, the coming Messiah. In the sixth Sunday of Easter I pause on the words of Jesus, who seems to echo this Psalm, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John 14:23). The mountain top is closer than we think. We are given consolation in this peace-filled thought. God will come to me and dwell within if I keep His word. On the heels of the resurrection right before the Ascension, Jesus again provides us with more wisdom for our journey. We are strengthened through the grace of the Holy Spirit “whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you” (John 14:26).  The journey to have the Lord dwell within is ours to take. It is a journey of heart and soul that calls us to be a living example of Jesus. Let us take up the ascent to the divine abode so that the Lord may dwell with us.