The seventy-two were sent out into the abundant harvest of the Lord. They were instructed: "Into whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this household." The peace which the seventy-two would bring into the homes of the faithful was nothing other then the peace of Christ, it is all that they brought with them. They were to bring Christ with them and thus they were to lead others into coming to surround them self with this same Christ and His love.
Upon returning to Christ the seventy-two were amazed for "even the demons are subject to us because of your name." I hope that we realize that spiritual warfare is something which is very real, but despite its seriousness we have Christ on our side who comes to triumph over any form of evil. Those who have allowed the peace of Christ to penetrate into their home have received a transformation because they were left changed through their interaction with Christ. We cannot come to know Christ and be left unchanged by our experience with Him. May we come to invite Christ into our homes in order that we and our families may grow in our love for Him.
"Peace be with this house and with all who live here" is the greeting which is given at a blessing of a home. I encourage all to get a member of the clergy to bless their home if this has not already taken place. A blessing of a home welcomes the love of Christ into the dwelling place. It sets the home apart as a sacramental which has been set aside to elevate our heart and mind towards God. If we believe spiritual warfare to be real we must mark our home as a dwelling place for God thus giving Satan no power over us.
Welcoming the peace of Christ into our home should cause us to reflect upon what we surround ourself with. When the seventy-two were sent out into the abundant Harvest of the Lord they were instructed to take nothing with them because all they needed was Christ. What pictures, statues, and crosses do we surround ourself with on a daily basis? If the answer is none of these are present within the home I encourage you to find ways to incorporate these into the home. The use of religious art is to elevate our mind to the divine.
Our reading from Isaiah shows a purified and joyful Jerusalem and shows a loving God who comforts and nurses His children. We too should allow our life to be purified in order that we may come to set our sight upon God. The world in all its struggles can be hard to deal with, but may we be assured of God’s love for us. If this is not to be made manifest within the home we have banished God from our midst and serve Him in word only.
Therefore, may we ask in what ways we can allow the peace of Christ to penetrate into our home. Is the message of the Gospel lived out in the home or is the home a place where offenses against the Gospel are allowed to be made manifest? Dedicate an area of the home to be a place of prayer. Make an altar where devotions can be offered to the One Triune God. We take so much time to chase after frivolous activities, but may we be truthful with ourself and ask how much time to we dedicate to God.
May the peace of Christ penetrate into the home and may the home become a dwelling place of Christ’s love as is displayed through the life of the family.
