INTRO:

In my elementary school years it was a pattern that we twin brothers and sister, BEFORE we would go to school, we would go to daily Mass at our parish church.

Things were so different in those years and we would actually attend Mass without a parent! Typically, Dad would drop us off on his way to work…..and we would go into the church by ourselves. We were “pretty” good and well behaved.

This church had racks of VOTIVE LIGHTS.

I can’t tell you how many times candles got lit by my brother and I WITHOUT making an offering! Oh well!

Becoming priests was our …………. making RESTITUTION!

In the beginning of MY sixth grade year our family moved from that city to another and we registered at our new parish church.
I remember walking into the church as a young sixth grader….to attend the daily morning mass (THERE WERE NO RACKS OF VIGIL LIGHTS!!!  ) And the interior struck me odd…it was so different, lots of marble, and gold fleur de lis artwork and we kids looked at each other and said…we don’t like it!

ANYWAY…..
It was from this parish church that our family grew in our devotion to God. It was not the building, but the “interior tug” inside our hearts that we experienced.

For me…. it was God inviting me INTO a relationship with Him.
God definitely does do this to all of you. He tries to break into your minds, your hearts, and your souls when you are here in this building.

The “temple” or church for me became a sit and listen place;
o During recess
o During summer vacations
o Before Mass

In a most relevant way that is what we heard from Jesus in the Gospel today….

He wanted His Father’s house to be a sit and listen place!

STOP ALL THE ACTIVITIES OF LIFE and sit and listen to me.

And isn’t it true that so many ACTIVITIES invade our lives and become center stage, become the priority?

How many times does it say LISTEN in the New Testament?

o Whoever has ears, ought to hear….
o Listen to Him, for I am well-pleased….
o If anyone hears my voice, I will come to him….
o So faith comes from hearing…and hearing through the Word of Christ…
o My sheep hear my voice…..

Our anxiety to keep up with the activities of life is stronger than the “anxiety” to take our time to sit and listen to JESUS and be in a relationship with Jesus.

Relationships of any kind
Take COMMITMENT
Take TIME
Take PRIORITY.

CONCLUSION

This Johannine Gospel, its emphasis is encountering the divine for a relationship. It serves as an important reminder that the
SEASON OF LENT
should focus on our authentic desire for many encounters with Jesus.

Sit and listen to Him and make my house a place of devotion.