Not Home. Come Home.
2025 Lenten Reflections
NOT HOME. COME HOME.
"One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."
Psalm 27:4
Illustration by Eunice Sunmie Derksen
Scripture reveals that home is both a spiritual journey and a place of belonging. Abraham’s faith journey, Ruth’s story of provision, and the Exodus narrative all point to God as the source of safety and restoration. Jesus himself redefined home not as a location but as love, hospitality, and relationship with God. Through parables like the Prodigal Son and promises that there are “many rooms” in his Father’s house, Jesus shows how God’s ultimate desire is to bring us into belonging through his presence and Kingdom shalom.
At its best, home is where we are known, loved, and safe. It is a place of rest, creativity, and peace. Yet, as Lententide reminds us, in this world we will encounter loss, alienation, and brokenness. Through Jesus Christ we get a glimpse of a restored home—one of abundance, belonging, and joy in God’s love.
HOME
NOT HOME
The Bible also presents us with the tension of "not home." Jesus himself experienced homelessness and exile, and was even rejected by his own home community. The brokenness of the world—exile, scarcity, and isolation— reveals the absence of true shalom.
The disciples' desire to build shelters during the Transfiguration shows how humans long for permanence, but Jesus calls us to something greater—the home that he brings to all creation through his life, death, resurrection, and ultimate return. The Church, as God’s family, is called to be an expression of this home; offering refuge, restoration, and love, to all who feel lost.
REFLECT
What does “home” mean for you and others in your family, neighborhood, and community?