Welcome Home

By Mary Jeppson

     A couple of weeks ago I joined a group of St. Therese parishioners to watch the presentation of Catholicism 101: Essentials for the Journey on “Prayer: Let’s Communicate” presented by nationally known Catholic speaker Jeff Cavins. The presentation was quite informative and there were several questions discussed afterwards.

     However, during the presentation Jeff Cavins mentioned a small book called “My Heart-Christ’s Home” by Robert Boyd Munger. It grabbed my attention and I wrote the title down in my notes. After the session was over, Tina, who was sitting next to me, just happened to have a copy of the booklet with her. That was amazing to me! She offered it to me to read.

     In the beginning of the book the author speaks of the confusion the disciples have about Jesus saying He would be with them always (“Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”) (Jn 14:23) but in (Jn 13:33) Jesus said “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’”  They were hearing conflicting words. How can He be with us if He’s leaving us?

     In John 14: 2-3 Jesus said “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” How is this possible? In Ephesians 3:16-17 Paul writes: “that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith”…)

     Then Pentecost happened and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and now understood.  God would dwell in our human hearts! * “The body of the believer had become the temple of the living God and the human heart the home of Jesus Christ.”

     The next step is when Jesus knocks at the door are you going to open it wide and invite Jesus in to live in your heart? The book will take you on a tour of each room of your heart with Jesus. Since he is coming to live with you, you need to show him everything that is in your heart. Is there anything you would not want him to see or know about you?

     Make Jesus Christ the owner and master of your heart and you the servant. * “He knows how to keep it and use it and soon a deep peace will settle in your soul. Jesus Christ himself through the Holy Spirit will actually enter a heart, settle down and be at home there. Christ will live in any human heart that welcomes him.” Is it time to open your heart and say Welcome Home to Jesus?”

*My Heart – Christ’s Home by Robert Boyd Munger   InterVarsity Press

The Holy Bible  RSV Ignatius Press