Are you willing to let Jesus come into every room of your home? - Daily Reflections May 4,2015

AT HOME WITH THE LORD

 

The retreat center that I go to for my annual retreats is most beautiful and conducive for prayer and reflection. In one of the prayer rooms, I have always been fascinated with the structure of the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle is made of wood and structured as a house. I tried to see where the door is, but to this day, it remains a mystery to me. The “house” is perched on wood and invites people to meditate on the Host that dwells within.

       Jesus is telling us in today’s Gospel that those who keep His commands will have the blessing of His visitation. The Father and Jesus will come and make their home in us. Just like the Tabernacle that “houses” the Blessed Sacrament, so too are we houses that Jesus and His Father desire to dwell in. Amazing! How often are we hesitant to invite people into our homes? We make excuses — my house is small, my house is in a mess, my house is like this and like that. Jesus doesn’t care how our house looks like; He just wants to come, if we keep His commands. When we have visitors, we invite our guests to the cleanest and most beautiful room in our house, usually the living room. We would never dream of bringing our guests to the messy rooms — the kitchen, our bedrooms, or the laundry room. But this is exactly the room where God desires to visit — the most uncommon, dirty and disordered room.

       Jesus is at home with us. Are we at home with Jesus? We fear when God comes too close to home — to us. We are afraid of losing control if we allow Jesus to truly come home. We need not be afraid. Let us trust that He will come and gently cleanse us and renew us in faith and love. Let’s not be afraid to open the door. How He enters is a mystery! Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you willing to let Jesus come into every room of your home? He is a guest but He is also the One who dwells within. St. Paul reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Do you believe this?

 

Lord, I invite You into my home. Amen.