There is a particular relief in finding a door open when you have been out in the rain. For this little rabbit, the welcome becomes real when he steps inside, still wet, and finds a place among others who have come out of the same darkness.
“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.”
Psalm 122:1 (KJV)
Psalm 122 begins with the joy of an invitation to worship. It belongs to the Songs of Ascents, associated with the journey to Jerusalem, where God’s people gathered to give thanks. The words “Let us go” carry a simple kindness: someone is being invited to come along. Before the arrival, before the gathering, there is already a moment of connection.
That shared gladness finds a gentle echo in the rabbit’s welcome. The rain has followed him to the threshold, but it does not keep him outside. The others are already there, and his arrival makes him part of the gathering. What makes the moment touching is the discovery that shelter and company can be found in the same place.
We may recognize that feeling in an invitation that comes when we have been lonely, or in the ease of sitting among people who are glad we came. Such gestures give substance to the words “All are welcome.” They remind us how much it matters to extend an invitation and make room for the person who accepts it.
May we find joy in drawing near to God together, and may someone else find it easier to come in because of the welcome we offer.