When Jesus Leaves Home

When Jesus Leaves Home 

Eileen Renders

   Most parents can relate to that “empty nest” feeling when their young adult children leave home for college, a job, or marriage. It is a bittersweet emotion, although we believe we accomplished our responsibility of raising our children to the best of our ability, teaching our children, and being a good example.    

   Wondering what is meant by the title of this article; when Jesus Leaves Home” is a greater emptiness, it is a deep void within our being and is relentless as it goes deeper and wider than anything we have ever experienced.  

   We His people, are asked to become a Temple wherein He might dwell with us, lead us, guide us, and instruct us. When God said; “I AM in you as you are in Me” is conditional. The condition is that we, His Temple, must remain free of sin. To accomplish this, we must frequently receive absolution in the Confessional, attend Mass, receive Christ live through the Eucharist, and follow the Ten Commandments.

   When we are not focused, misguided, poorly influenced, or become prey to Satan, Jesus no longer will live within us. Mother Teresa wrote in several of her books, how she also, felt His absence.In her case, she believed it was a “Test” of her courage, endurance, and tolerance for all she was to endure. She wanted nothing from love than to be of service to God, and to feel His constant companionship. In her words, she said God referred to her as “My little one”, and “My little spouse.” Yet, she was devastated when she did not feel His presence, or hear Him speak to her.

   Jesus has said He will know those who love Him and follow His Commandments. We must choose right from wrong, pleasing God, or pleasing ourselves. We can choose heaven or Hell. In the sacrament of Reconciliation, we promise to “confess our sins, do penance, and amend our lives.” As young children new to instituting our commitment to God and His Commandments, we have often excused ourselves after committing a mortal sin by saying to ourselves; “Oh well, I’ll just go to Confession Saturday.” It helps to remember that the sacrament of Reconciliation is not to wipe the slate clean to sin again. We promise God in the Confessional when we say; “Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all because they offend thee my God who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of thy graces, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to mend my life Amen.” 

   Amening our lives with a resolve to sin no more is our promise. This requires us to resist Satan, and avoid sin. Therefore, it is imperative that we keep that promise!