Caleb, our grandson is a smart little kid (whose grandchildren aren't?). His identification of what is significant and his ability to put it into words are amazing.

Last year Caleb, when he was two years old, had a traumatic experience. His parents took a short holiday and left him in our care. What we did not anticipate is that it created some "separation anxiety" in him. For quite a while, whenever Caleb and his parents came to visit with us, he was afraid he would be left behind again. On one of those occasions, when it came time to go home, Caleb eagerly headed to the van, settled in his car seat and joyfully exclaimed, "Well, we're homeward bound!"

Jesus told a story about anxiety caused by separation from family and home (Luke 15: 11-24). This, however involved a man much older than Caleb. Like most young people, this young man was eager to be independent and go out into the world to seek his fortune. But he had an attitude problem. He rejected his father and his family. He was proud, arrogant and naïve. Therefore, instead of making his fortune, he lost it. He made poor and foolish choices, and as a result wound up broke, hungry and unable to land a decent job.

After facing this cruel reality, he felt alone. His eyes were now opened to the love he had received and the values he had learned in his home and found them to be true and irreplaceable. He yearned to return home. In doing so, he decided to beg his father's forgiveness and be satisfied with even the tiniest of his home's benefits. But what kind of reception would he receive, if any? Expecting the worst, the young man experienced a complete surprise. Instead of a cold shoulder or a stern lecture, his father raced to meet him and with compassion embraced and kissed him. And to top it off, his father organized a feast to celebrate the joy of his son's return.

Jesus tells this story to illustrate the amazing good news of the welcome God has for us who have strayed from him. God eagerly waits for our return home where he will embrace us with compassion and grace.

How is this return accomplished? The way home to God is by way of making a home for him in our hearts and lives.

The Book of Revelation records Jesus spiritual assessment of seven of the ancient churches in Asia Minor. Six of the seven churches had "strayed from home" in their own way. To one of those churches Jesus said, "Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me" (Revelation 3:20).

God desires nothing more than the intimate relationship with us for which we were created. When we let Christ into the "home" of our heart we will be "at home" with him. It is then that our "separation anxiety" will turn into the peace that surpasses all human understanding.

This, in a nutshell, is also the nature of our ministry. We are to call people "home." St. Paul puts it this way: "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).