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In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks of
a home; a different kind of home than most people would think of. First of all,
what is a home? For some, it’s a place of joy, security, comfort and love. For
others, it’s a place of sorrow, insecurity, hurt, pain and abuse.
Jesus tells his disciples and all
would-be followers of his that, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my
Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
These words give all faithful followers of Jesus a wonderful promise. This
special home that Jesus is referring to here provides us with everything we need
in life—everything necessary to live our lives abundantly, to fulfill God’s will
and purpose.
You need to understand that the
culture of Palestine during this period of history placed a great deal of
importance on the home and hospitality. The home was a place of nurture, rest,
retreat, growth and fellowship. People were given adequate food and drink for
their survival and physical health. They were given a bed on which to rest
after a day’s work. They were given a place to retreat from the world with all
of its endless problems and demands. They were given a place to enjoy physical,
mental, emotional, and spiritual growth and fellowship. The home was not only a
centre for the basic family unit; it was also the centre of hospitality for
banquets, study, higher learning and worship. The home, in addition to all of
this, was a place of protection and amnesty for foreign travelers, refugees, and
outcasts.
So when Jesus, speaking about the Father
and himself, says, “We will come to them and make our home with them,” he is
making a wonderful promise. . . . Subscribers: click here for
the full
manuscript.
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