Dwelling Place

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Dwelling Place

Father's House

Prepare     Way     Place

Take You To Myself

I AM

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 14: 1 to 6a

"Do not worry. You have placed your faith in God; place your faith in me also. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.

 If there were not many places there, I would not have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you. As I go and get that place ready for you, I will come back again and take you to myself. 

In that way, where I am, you shall be there also. You know that way where I am going."

Thomas said to Jesus, "We do not know where you are going. How can we possibly know the way?"

Jesus said to him, " I AM the way, the truth, and the life." 

Reflection

Where is your favorite dwelling place? Do you have a special spot where you go to find peace?

I love to sit on the love seat in our living room. I can feel the sun on my shoulders as I sit and pray and read. I can turn around and look at the roses that are blooming right outside the windows.

It is a place of peace. A place of comfort. A place of insight.

Jesus tells us that He also wants to offer us a dwelling place. That special dwelling place is in the house of God.

Not only does God offer us that special place; Jesus is actually "preparing" it for us. We can all remember how we felt when someone prepared a place for us. 

I love it when we go to visit our daughter and her family in Massachusetts, and she prepares a guest room for us. It says that she really wants us to come and visit. She makes us feel special.

Jesus is doing the same thing and goes a step further. He is telling us that He will prepare a place for us and that He will "take us to Himself". 

His Love for us is so deep and complete that He wants to be one with us. He knows that we need to feel that deep acceptance to overcome our fears, worries, and insecurities. We always feel unworthy.

We can get lost in those feelings. When we do, there is a way back to Love.

Jesus!

1. Where is your favorite "dwelling place"?

2. Do you feel that Jesus is offering you a "dwelling place"?

3. What do you feel when you hear that Jesus wants to take you to Himself?

4. What strikes you as you contemplate Kathy's photo?

(scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)