In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. // John 14:2
Typically, when I read John 14 and meditate on how it applies to my life, it comes from the context of wanting to feel like I belong somewhere. I think sometimes, when we go through transitions or events that alter our identity and sense of belonging, we can forget that from the minute we were loved into being, we have always belonged to God.
This summer, I wanted to look at John 14 in a new light. Specifically, in the larger context that our Earthly lives are meant to be lived with the intention of coming back to the Lord over and over again. Though there are moments when we stray like lost sheep or we forget what His voice sounds like, we are called to return to Him. In this life and the next.
His Endless Pursuit
When we become too self-reliant, we forget that half the battle is surrendering our lives to the Lord. Sometimes in our prayer lives and in the spiritual life, we forget that God is the one who calls us to prayer. He is constantly pursuing us, even when we have turned away from Him.
There is no such thing as being too far gone or becoming a version of yourself that Christ no longer loves because His love washes away sin and continually renews us.
I will come again and I will take you to myself. // John 14:3
In Jesus’ Farewell Discourse, His disciples do not fully understand what He means when He talks about going back to the Father. They want to come with Him right away without the knowledge of what He is about to do: lay down His life to save us.
Yet even though the disciples are not fully aware of the depth of His Love in that very moment, Jesus makes it clear that He will continue to pursue us and is able to do so outside of the constraints of time and space.
Coming Home
Because Christ gave us the gift of free will, we are given the choice of whether or not we want to love Him back. His love never intrudes. It does not demand. It does not force itself into our lives. In every relationship we have, whether romantic or platonic, there are two people involved who constantly have to make the choice to choose each other. The same applies to our relationship with the Lord.
Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found. // Luke 15:23-24
In the story of the prodigal son, the father opens his arms with compassion and mercy. The son fully expects to be punished since his actions do not warrant such grace, but the thing about God’s Love is that it is not something to be earned or deserved, it is freely given.
Throughout our lives, we have probably been the prodigal [daughter] at some point. During the times we have strayed, Jesus has been in His Father’s house patiently waiting for our RETURN.
Return Summer Series
Over the next ten days, our blog team will share stories of how they have returned to the Lord in these five different ways: through the influence of other people, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and daily prayer. Each pathway of returning features the Lord’s invitation as well as the writer’s response to the Lord’s call.
We invite you to join us for this special summer series on the Blessed Is She blog. Whether you are the person helping someone to return, you have just returned or are in the process of wanting to come home, this series has something for everyone. We are waiting for you, sister. Come home.
Will you join us for this summer series? Are you ready to return?
Patricia Valderrama hails from the big state of Texas with a degree in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Austin (hook 'em horns). When she was a freshman in college, she started her own personal blog, All Things Patricia. It has since grown as a way for her to connect with others and share the Catholic faith from the perspective of a college student and now a young professional. She often calls herself the "biggest liturgical year B fan" and when she's not working, she's planning her next trip. She credits the friendships she made in college as the anchor for her growing deeper in her faith, especially their emphasis on the Holy Hour/Eucharistic Adoration.
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