33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A) – FRIDAY HOMILY

We’ve been living in our house for 40 years. It is well over 110 years old and it is not without its quirks and special touches – odd angles in some corners, an unmatched floor board here and there. That one stair that squeaks no matter what you do! And when you have to open a wall to fix an outlet, you find a treasure trove of relics – ancient toys, newspapers and tools, and even a less than stellar report card from 1909 (probably hidden on purpose). But whether it develops a leak in the roof or the furnace dies in the middle of winter or the front porch starts to sag a bit, it is still our home! It is still a place of so many memories and family gatherings and celebrations, moments of joy and sorrow, of growth and work and play, of laughter and even tears.

Jesus, in today’s Gospel, speaks of His house! And one phrase resonates with me today – “My house is a house of prayer.” Is our/your home a house of prayer? Do we take the time each day to step aside from the daily chores of washing clothes and dishes, from vegetating in front of the tv? Do we set aside time to make our own home a house of prayer? Simple things like starting the day with a morning prayer, grace before meals, and ending the day with a prayer of thanks!

We spend a lot of time keeping our house in good physical order. We invest time and sweat and money to keep it a comfortable and safe home. Should we not spend even more effort in making our house a place of prayer and spiritual growth?