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Homily Short Reflection
A reflection on the concept of homeland, emphasizing that our true homeland is not in this world but in communion with God, Discussing the idea of God’s mission through Jesus to restore what was lost in the beginning. Highlighting the importance of loving God and one’s neighbor, and bringing others to the ‘table of the Lord’, for the kingdom there will be rest from all labors.
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Our true homeland is not here — six simple words. Our true homeland is not here, meaning not here in this world. Our homeland was lost in the beginning, in a garden. I mean, our Father spoke to the Son in eternity — the Blessed Trinity — the Son was called to mission to come to this Earth.
And to bring us really back to God the Father, to bring us into communion and restore what had been lost. We look around our world, and it’s a devastating sore of wars and conflict and strife and greed and all. You can list a litany of sins and destructive forces that are working in our world.
And God came into the midst of this world through Jesus to restore. When He was born, it says in John’s Gospel, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He came in time and in space in our world. And it says in John’s Gospel that the Word became flesh and He tabernacled — He tented — among us.
This brings back that image of Abraham. Only this was a permanent move in the life of God coming for us. His mission was temporary, but His goal was eternal for us. And while we are on this pilgrimage, this journey, our mission is to love the Lord our God with our heart, soul, and strength — everything that we have — and our neighbor as ourselves.
And to bring everyone that we can to the table of the Lord where He feeds us with His very life. He gives us the kingdom. In Luke’s Gospel reading today, He says, The Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. And so we turn to Him now, and we receive Him, and we look forward to that kingdom where there will be no end, where there will be rest from all of our labors.
Because our true homeland is not here.