9 Holy Week Lessons for Handling Hard TimesSample

I read a study many years ago that psychologists ran to answer the question, “What word in the English language gives more comfort than any other?”

When I first heard the study, I thought it would be “family.” Maybe “love.” But in this particular study, the overwhelming winner was…

Home.

I know for some people the idea of home brings up bad memories, and for others, sad memories. But for the vast majority of people in this study, the thought of home created comfort. And I do think that is what we long for more than anything: A place where we can belong. A place where we can be ourselves. A place where we can feel safe. A home.

Isn’t it interesting that the God who made this entire world came down to this earth in the form of Jesus only to live his adult life homeless?

Yes, Jesus had a home growing up. In fact, most scholars agree that he began his ministry at the age of 30, and was crucified by 33. That means that for over 90% of his life, Jesus lived in a home.

But when he began the work his father had assigned him, he became homeless. He’d been unhoused all the years of his ministry, so isn’t it interesting that the first time Jesus mentions it is when his face has turned toward his impending suffering?

In talking to people who’ve been through suffering during my 17 years as a pastor, the suffering that comes with sickness often creates a homesickness like no other. If you ever ever had to stay in a hospital for any length of time, you know that feeling. But even deeper, if you don’t know how your sickness is going to end, if you don’t know if you’re going to live or die, you can really feel like you have no place to lay your head.

In today’s text, I think Jesus isn’t just underlining his homelessness. I think he’s passively pointing toward his ultimate journey home to his father. The trip to Jerusalem was after all a trip to the city of God. It would be to the temple where his father dwells. If you remember early in Luke, Mary and Joseph lost track of young Jesus for three straight days (I guess there wasn’t CPS in Jesus’ time, or the two of them would have been reported for sure).

When Mary and Joseph found the boy, the dialogue was stunning: “Son,” his mother said to him, “Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

“But why did you need to search?” Jesus asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

When Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem in Luke 9, he was ultimately setting his face toward home.

And I believe that included a look beyond any temple or city. Rather, he looked toward the finishing of his task and being welcomed home by his father in heaven.

It’s amazing to me how quickly after a cancer diagnosis you start to see how temporary everything is in this world. In talking with people who’ve been farther down this road than we have, all of them say the same thing. Life is about living each day, and resting in the fact that I will be home in heaven one day gives me the ability to live the days that are here and now.

I think one thing I’m learning is that facing suffering on this earth is made far easier by focusing on the fact that this is only our temporary home.

Are you faced with uncertainty or suffering today? Look toward your heavenly home.

My grandfather was part of “The Greatest Generation.” He fought at Okinawa, came home from the war, and built a successful career. He got to enjoy that success. I believe his favorite part of that success was taking family on trips. He loved to take his daughters and grandchildren all over the country and the world. He loved to travel with his wife. And he got to travel a whole lot.

I’ll never forget asking after one of his trips with family what was his favorite part. He looked at me and said, “William, the best part of every trip is getting home.”

No matter what trip life has dealt you, the best part of your trip lies ahead. No matter what may be taken away from you here, you have a final destination that you cannot lose. Because Jesus took on the cross and was raised from the dead, you can rest assured that you do have a place to lay your head for eternity. You do have a place that will bring comfort more than any other word in the world.

You do have a Home.

Prayer:

O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve us who travel through this life, particularly when we suffer. Surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to their journey's end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (adapted from Book Of Common Prayer)