How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! // Psalm 84:3
I followed my children and husband from the car, over the overgrown weeds in the grass, through a narrow passageway, into the church's activity center. Its limestone walls showed their age along with the felt decor from a youth group that met in the 90s. As I passed by the folding table before we entered where Mass would be held, I pushed away two children's eager paws attempting to rake all the pamphlets and rosaries into their pockets.
Construction on this little country church wasn't complete yet so any weekend we were at the cabin, Mass would be in this modest activity center. And I balked a bit at first. I hemmed and hawed about maybe driving back early to the city to be at our beautiful parish for Mass, to experience the liturgy I loved, to watch my son serve in his cassock and surplice. But mostly in my heart, I wasn't concerned about not being in beautiful place to worship God, to witness the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I was reluctant to kneel for too long on that linoleum floor again.
I get caught up like the Pharisees in today's Gospel, thinking about how devout my kids look or don't look at church, how people respond when I assure them that I pray more than one Holy Hour a week, that pause when I name drop our bread supplier: my sourdough starter on the counter. I'm consumed by all the wrong things: my gray hairs, wayward eyebrows, my knees' kneeling capacity.
God has come to dwell amongst us. Let's welcome Him, enter into His presence with wonder and awe, and chuckle at our foibles while we set them aside.
Are you allowing the joy and loveliness of God to overflow your heart? Contemplate His dwelling space for a place within you today.
Allow the joy and loveliness of God to overflow your heart. // Nell O'LearyClick to tweet
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