MI CASA ES SU CASA

My house is your house.

Perhaps, nothing explains God’s incarnation in Jesus and his ministry as much as these words: My house is your house. He came to tell us, Mi casa es su casa!

I shared this with a dear friend, who said, Does that mean that heaven is in Italy? [Although the expression is in Spanish...she might be right about Italy.]

Jesus' entire ministry was about accompaniment, welcoming, serving and feeding all whom he encountered...to make them feel at home...loved! 

And as he returned to the Father, he wanted us to remember that this remains his mission, saying to us, Do not let your hearts be troubled...I go to prepare a place for you.

This is what we all seek to do for our loved ones; we do our best to provide a home for our family...to shelter them from fear. Two thoughts which come to mind are:

1.    Is our definition of family the same as God’s?

2.    It’s noteworthy that the one who came to provide a shelter for us, was born in a borrowed stable, began his life as a refugee, and lived, at least during his three years of ministry, homeless.

I am reminded of two college students who wanted to see what it was like to be homeless and so took six months away from their studies to experience homelessness. In Under the Overpass, they shared their story of eating left-overs from the garbage dumps of fast-food places, and sleeping wherever they could find “shelter”.

What struck them most was how so many “good Christians” turned them away from church services because they were dirty and stank, but even worse how many simply turned from them and would not even acknowledge their existence.

Jesus came to not only provide us a house…a shelter from all that threatens us…but to create a loving home, where all are welcomed, embraced, fed, served, and loved. 

On this Mother's Day and as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima, I am keenly aware that that's exactly what our Blessed Mother did and every mother does. Indeed, it is said, Home is where Mom is. 

And this is the love...the way...that Jesus came to teach us so that we would know the way…to the Father. 

Here we are in God’s house. But it’s worth asking, Is it God’s home?

My sisters and brothers, we are still in the midst of the 50 days of Easter. Easter is more than just about our individual salvation…our new life. In the Easter stories, we see the resurrected Christ impress upon his disciples to continue his mission…to build a community…a family of love. 

Jesus said then and says now, Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do. And, Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. St. Peter adds in our second reading that discipleship is about letting [ourselves] be built into a spiritual house.

In other words, he has chosen us to continue his mission.

How are we doing? How are we doing (individually and collectively) in our attentiveness, welcoming and feeding of those in need…the homeless, aliens, refugees? Are we becoming a spiritual house? When others see us, do they see God?

That can seem too profound for us. But there may be a simpler test for us to see whether or not we're making God's house into God's home. 

We take pride, and rightly so, in being a most welcoming parish. Many who visit our church compliment us on our hospitality. Still we may have a ways to go. Take a look around you. How many do you know? Do you know each other’s name? When we are invited during Mass to respond to prayers, do we do so? Do we sing, or simply enjoy the beautiful sounds and voices from the choir? 

The choir is an essential part of our liturgy, but it’s principal focus is not to entertain us, nor even to uplift us, but to animate us to full, conscious and active participation in the celebration. That's how we have the fullest experience of God with us.

Sometimes traffic or other obstacles may prevent us from getting to Mass on time or may force us to leave early, but let us remember that we come to this celebration at his invitation…to be welcomed and fed (with his Word and his Body and Blood), so that we can become bread for others. That’s the goal and ultimate test.

Let us also remember that we are not only coming to God’s house, we are coming to celebrate as a community…a family. That’s how we remain in him and he in us. That’s how we make this God’s home…and create God’s kingdom, a heaven on earth. 

I leave you with this question: What is one thing you can do today, this week, so that you can say to him as he enters your body, Mi casa es su casa?