Christ Jesus, bring me home to the Father…

Luke 7:36-50  

 
It is a matter of being at home! Arguably, Jesus’ primary commission from His Father was to bring human souls back home; for the family of the Holy Trinity to so dwell within the being of each person on earth, that they would be able to be brought back to their home in ‘heaven’, the true home-kingdom of Father God. The vignette of ‘a woman who was a sinner’ washing and anointing the feet of Jesus in a Pharisee’s home is a sign of how this works. Simon the Pharisee had built himself a beautiful home here on earth and invited Jesus to come by for a meal – but gave the itinerant preacher from Galilee neither a caring nor honorable welcome; he did not himself tend Jesus’ dusty and tired feet, nor did he have his slave wash the feet of his guest. Neither did Simon greeted him with a kiss of either affection or peace – clearly he was more curious than caring of Jesus, more interested in his own ‘kingdom’ than in the King of Kings in his presence.  Nor did Simon anoint Jesus’ head with oil – the common sign of hospitality in mid-Eastern culture at that time. It was the sinner woman who made herself at home with Jesus, who made him welcome in her sphere of influence – who washed the grime off his feet with her own tears, kissed the soles of his human soul repeatedly, and anointed his body not only with oil, but with ointment (a foreshadowing of the anointing of his body after the crucifixion. The woman who was a sinner welcomed Jesus, and was not only welcomed herself, but was washed by the Holy Guest himself. ‘Your sins are forgiven’, she was told.  Will I keep Jesus at arm’s length like the Pharisee, or will I welcome my Redeemer and Healer into my ‘home’ and then be ready to go home with him to the Father’s house? Christ Jesus, bring me home to the Father.   
 
I thank you that you have answered me and become my salvation.     (Psalm 118:21 )
 
Let us do all things with the conviction that God dwells in us.
St Ignatius of Antioch
 
View: My Heart, Christ’s Home, by Robert Munger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzXHpNxAAps    
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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