Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Have you ever heard the saying, “Home is where the heart is”? I think of that saying every time I read this scripture. The word Jesus used here for house, (oikia), often translated as mansion in Protestant bibles, can be seen here allegorically to refer to God’s heart. So, if we reread the scripture with this allegorical meaning, it would now read, “In my Father’s heart, there are many dwelling places.” Wow. In God’s heart there is room enough for each of us. He loves each of us perfectly, individually and has a place prepared for each of us… in his heart.

Now, if you take that section with the rest of the text, it makes amazing sense for those who believe in Jesus. Thomas, also known as Didymus or ‘the twin’, naively asks the question, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” If you have never heard of who Thomas’ twin is, it’s because the Evangelist never tells us. This has led scholars to muse that we are Thomas’ twin. Think about it. Thomas only speaks in the in Gospels on a few occasions, but in each circumstance, he speaks at pivotal moments where questions of faith arise. So, the suggestion has been made, that like Thomas, we too are seekers of Christ, who like the Apostle, struggle with faith and belief! We as readers of the gospel want to follow him, but we wrestle with all the things that challenge our faith and our belief. Jesus, for his part, responds as only he could to calm Thomas’ (and our) fears and anxieties, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In other words, follow me, trust in me and you will have life to its fullness. This is what awaits us in God’s heart and Christ wants to bring us there if we can place our trust in him to lead us. Our Home is where his heart is!

On my best days I am like Peter; impetuous, energetic, well meaning. On my bad days I am more like Thomas, struggling to make sense of it all and to believe. I have faith, but I am weak. The cares of life, the struggles of the ones I love, the burdens of leadership cause me all kinds of struggle and strain. But the words of Jesus from this text are so comforting as I grapple with those moments. God loves each of us individually and what he yearns for most is for us to be at peace in him. Another quote comes to mind here. This one is from St. Augustine, “Our hearts are restless, until they rest in thee, O Lord.” I look forward to the end of my restlessness and I have great hope for that day when I can rest in God’s heart with all whom I have loved and lost and miss so dearly. I hope and pray I am worthy of that gift.

My cares and anxieties sometimes get the better of me. They may cause me to doubt God’s love for me and I question all manner of things when life doesn’t make sense. But I don’t have to worry. Today I invite you to join me in following Jesus and trusting in him regardless of what happens in our lives or where we find ourselves knowing that he is always with us and leading us to the fullness of life.

With Easter joy,

Fr. Steve