Imagine a parent whose child has been away from home for a long time. The child left home to see the world, to find their own way, and to figure out what to do with life. Some things went well. Some things didn't. Life happened. And all that time, the parents have been waiting. Maybe the parents turn on the light at night. Maybe the child's room is still just the way it was. The parents don't know when the child will come back, but somehow, the room is still there. And one day, the child finally comes home. What do you think the parents say? "Where have you been? What have you done with your life? Did you succeed? Why did you take so long?" Probably not.
I think the parents would simply open the door and say, "You're home! I'm so glad to see you." Why? Because the child is still their child. The parent hasn't stopped loving them. I like that picture. Because I think that's what home is about. It's not just a building or a room. It's a place where you belong. A place where you don't have to explain yourself or pretend to be someone else. You can just come in and be yourself.
And yet we forget this all the time. We ignore the things already in our hands, the things that are always there, the things we are used to. So we turn over the whole field of happiness, searching for a lucky fourleaf clover, while the ordinary three-leaf clover of home sits quietly in our pocket.
About ten years ago, something small happened that I still think about. By then I had been living in Canada for almost ten years, and I had never been to the United States. For some reason, I just didn't feel like going. But one day I thought, "Well, I've been living in Canada for almost ten years. Maybe I should go and see the United States at least once!"
So I took my wife and our young children and drove south. We had a very simple plan. We would go to the closest American city, look around for a little while, have dinner, and drive straight back to Canada. That's it! We just wanted to be able to say, "We've been to the United States!"
We had a nice little trip. We looked around, had dinner, and then headed back. But by the time we got to the Canadian border, it was already past midnight. The children were asleep in the back seat. The road was dark and quiet.
Now, going through a border inspection is not always comfortable when you're an immigrant. And at that time of night, there were hardly any other cars around. I remember feeling a little sorry that we were arriving so late. The officer looked sleepy. He made a little comment about how late we were coming back. I felt even more apologetic. Then he asked me a few questions. And just before letting us through, he said two simple words: "Welcome home."
That's all. Just two words. But somehow, those words went straight into my heart. I remember thinking, "Oh! I'm home." You know, I had made a life here. My family was here. But until that moment, I had never really thought of Canada as my home. And there, at a quiet border crossing, a stranger said two simple words. And suddenly, I felt that I belonged.
I don't think that officer had any idea what those words meant to me. He was probably just doing his job. But I still remember him. And even now, nearly ten years later, I'm still thankful to him. Isn't that something? Sometimes, all it takes is a few words. A simple welcome. And suddenly, you feel at home.
I wonder how many of us are looking for that feeling. A place where we belong. A place where we can relax. A place where we don't have to be somebody special or have everything figured out. And I think Jesus knew that feeling.
That's what makes today's words from Jesus so beautiful. Jesus says, "In my Father's house there are many rooms." Think about the situation. Jesus was talking to his closest friends. They were worried. They knew that something was about to change. Jesus had told them he would be leaving, and they didn't know what would happen to them. They were afraid of being left alone. They were wondering where they would go and what would happen next. And Jesus said, "There are many rooms in my Father's house." I think Jesus was saying something like this: "Don't be afraid. You are not forgotten. You still belong. There is a place for you."
What a wonderful thing to hear when you're worried about losing your place in the world. And I don't think this promise is only about some faraway place after we die. It's also about knowing that we belong to God right now. That God's love is not somewhere far away. God is with us, and there is room for us in that love.
We don't all have the same story. Some of us have been coming to church for many years. Some haven't been here for a long time. Some of us may be visiting today for the first time. Some have strong faith. Some have questions. Some may not even know what they believe right now. That's okay.
You don't have to explain why you've been away. You don't have to have all the answers. You don't have to pretend that everything in your life is going well. And you certainly don't have to prove that you deserve to be here. There is room for you. And if the word home itself hurts, God is not asking you to go back there. God is inviting you into something new.
This church has been part of this community for more than a hundred years. Many people have found friendship, comfort, and hope here. And I hope it can continue to be that kind of place. Not a place where everyone has to be the same. Not a place where we have everything figured out. Just a place where we make room for one another, where we listen, where we care, and where people can feel welcome.
Of course, this church building isn't God's home. But I hope that when people walk through these doors, they can experience a little of God's welcome. And I want to be honest with you. The church has not always been this kind of home. We have been slow to open the door, and for that I am sorry.
So let me ask you something. Have you found a place where your heart can rest? A place where you can be yourself? A place where you feel that you belong? Maybe you're still looking. That's okay, too. Maybe today, you can simply take a breath. Maybe you can just enjoy being here. And maybe, little by little, this could become a place where you feel at home.
Jesus said there are many rooms in God's house. Many rooms. One home. And there is room for you. Welcome home.