Where the Rabbi dwells
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were going to an event and one of the things you were looking forward to most (if it was not the only thing) was the food? Well, I can definitely relate and I would guess that all my fellow introverts can relate too. But you know what? Food is an icebreaker. I have never been on a visit or to an event where there was nothing to eat, that would be quite unusual. I think that food in this sense is massively underrated. If we think about it, food breaks down barriers! When you go on a first date, for example, you usually go out to a restaurant or cafe. When you have visitors to your house, you most likely will offer them some cakes, scones, croissants, or whatever is left in your fridge.
From food to intimacy
Food is home. When you invite a friend to your house you offer them food. When you pay a visit to your granny’s house you get food … and loads of it! Sitting with others at the table means there are always good laughs, warm hugs, joy, and intimacy. The people you usually invite to your house are not strangers to you. They are your friends.
When I was studying at University I had a core group of friends. I mean the kind of friends you grow in faith with, those who push you closer to God, and who always tell you the truth about yourself. The time spent with them was my favourite time. I was not afraid to be truly me. We were a real community.
When they came to visit me and my family for the first time I was incredibly nervous. They were about to get to know me from a totally different angle. And believe me..they did. I think the same day one of them told me a thing that has stayed with me even until today. He said he had always enjoyed visiting his friends in their homes because it was thanks to those visits and meeting their family he got to know them more deeply, he finally understood their background and reasons for their behaviour. And I guess he was right. Inviting someone to your home is revealing to them your most intimate space. It shows them a whole part of your world that in other cases stays hidden from sight. It is something very special, reserved for those people who you trust and value the most. It means you trust those whom you welcome at your doorstep.
Invitation from Jesus
What if Jesus called you now and asked you to visit him in his home? There is a passage in John’s gospel where the two disciples who were with John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him: “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” (John 1: 38-39). They wanted to visit Jesus and perhaps talk about something in private or perhaps they just wanted to know where they might be able to find him sometime in the future.
Another possible explanation for asking Jesus where he was staying is that they desired the closeness and intimacy that comes from spending time with their Rabbi. Jesus trusted them, hence He did not hesitate a second in inviting them to his home - “Come and see.” He Invited the two disciples to His house that very day (see John 1:39b) and they most likely shared food, drinks and enjoyed each other’s company, everything one might expect from such a visit.
Can you imagine? Can you imagine Jesus telling you: Come and see? It was only until a friend of mine pointed out to me that we are all invited to His house, the House of God, that I could put this into perspective. He calls us each and every day to come and visit Him there.
Where the Rabbi DWELLS
While we acknowledge that The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14) let us think about His dwelling place of today. Yes, of course, He is always with us in our hearts and in the heart of our neighbour, yet there is a place where we can find our Rabbi in a special way you will not find Him anywhere else.
Entering a church is entering God’s house where He dwells and where He is waiting for us to come and see Him. He is trusting you so much! Patiently lingering in the form of a fragile host longing for me and you to come and share with Him our hearts, troubles, joys... He reveals Himself to us intimately and totally in the Eucharist. You can speak to Him in an intimate way while enjoying His personal company in the Eucharist during Adoration. We are invited to get to know Him more deeply than the world does. Because we’re His disciples and friends, we are called to this intimacy with Him, to stay with Him in His house and abide with Him in Adoration, prayer and at Holy Mass.
Now back to food...
As we have said, each visit comes with some food or drinks. I know that is not the main reason but guess what ... Jesus prepares for us the greatest refreshment of all. I know this may sound like a cliché but it is definitely true! Maybe you know the story of a pelican piercing her heart to feed her children. Just like her feeding her babies with her own blood so Jesus offers His own body and blood not only to feed our bodies but also to make us new. What better feast could we wish for? The body of Christ offered up every day during Holy Mass breaks the ice that has covered our hearts for a long time. We alone are not able to break through it. Only His body and blood have the power to make us anew. This is the food we can find in Jesus’ house – Himself. I am in awe when I contemplate what a privilege we have as disciples of Christ! The important thing is that we show up and visit Him in His house.
I encourage you, dear friends, do not forget who is awaiting you in the tabernacle. Do not forget who is inviting us everyday to meet Him personally and intimately, offering us His joy, peace and comfort and of course... His body. Now that the churches are open again, let us enjoy the tangible presence of God again and let us do so to the fullest! Let us not miss a chance to visit Jesus and make Him help our hearts to wake up from the long winter sleep. Let us make time to visit Him and get to know Him better in the sacraments. He is trusting you! That’s why He makes Himself so weak so that we may be strong. Come to Him and know where He stays because where He stays we have more than just a supper, we receive Jesus himself, Body and Blood.