In one of my reflection books there is the title, ‘At home with Jesus’. I can look at this from a relational point of view and ask the question if I am comfortable with Jesus in our relationship. Otherwise I can reflect on what other ideas come to mind when I see the word ‘home’.
I love the word because I have good memories of it. I was also fortunate enough to have only one home. My mother lived in the same house in Moonee Ponds for 71 years. So it was the only home that my brothers and sister ever knew. We had no idea of what it was like to move from house to house, suburb to suburb or our Dad even changing employment. He worked on the railways all his working life.
We had our grandparents living with us in my early days and this was not the most amicable arrangement. This would not deter me from saying it was home for me. When I came home from school Mum was always there. On the few occasions when she wasn’t it was a strange feeling to come home to an empty house. Having someone to welcome me was so important especially if it was Mum. There was a certain stability that I enjoyed, with Mum always there, Dad would arrive home at the same time each day, he rarely did overtime and certainly no Saturday or Sunday work.
I enjoyed this security that this lifestyle and home life offered me. I think it has been the strength and basis of my life ever since.
The reflection goes on to say, ‘there is no place like home’. I can firmly affirm these thoughts, more than many others sadly. We were not rich but home was home for me.
So when I read about Jesus and what he says about home and I know exactly what he is trying to say. I have the same beautiful thoughts of what he is trying to convey, knowing not all is perfect.
But we can take comfort and reassurance from what Jesus is saying, for we do believe and trust that he makes a home for us. This is difficult for some as their only understanding of home is not peaceful, happy, secure and loving. Our heavenly home is the ideal but what many experience is far from this.
There is a beautiful passage in John’s Gospel Ch 14 where Jesus talks about going and preparing a place for us and after he has done this he will return and take us with him. This passage is used so often at a funeral, obviously because it says a lot to the bereaved family.
I love using it to preach on (but not so often though) because of the memories it has for me. If we have good memories of what home is to us then we can grasp something of what Jesus is trying to convey to us. I like using the Father, as for the Trinity, because of what my father was to me. I therefore pray to the Father and talk to him because he is my Abba. Father.
The funeral ritual uses the term our eternal home and again I love making the reference so as to offer comfort and support to those gathered as the congregation.
This week is Social Justice Week and the Bishops are asking us to help the homeless with the Justice Statement called, ‘A Place to Call Home’. The statement says that more than 116,000 Australians are homeless. So to speak to them about home as I understand it could be a foreign language.
As I went on my early morning walk today through the Carlton Gardens there was a fellow fossicking through the bins obviously looking for something to eat. I ponder his plight but I also ask myself where did you stop last night? I am sure it wasn’t home as I imagine it?
So Jesus can talk about home and what he offers but many don’t have good memories and therefore can’t comprehend what Jesus is on about.
The Social Justice Statement concludes with the message: ‘Everyone deserves a place to call home’. The only home we can all be assured of is in John’s Gospel – and Jesus will take us to that eternal home.
Fr Michael Morley
Sacred Heart Parish Tatura
5th October 2018
