Recognizing Holiness in a Home
by Dér Stépanos Dingilian, Ph.D. © 1999
A home has an opportunity to be blessed every year. Does this make a difference? Can a home where people uphold the Christian way of life be recognized as being different than others? The answer is ‘Yes.’ When we enter a home that is blessed and those who live there uphold the Christian Way of Life, there are certain signs that we can sense. Here are some of them:
Peaceful – We have a sense of peacefulness when we enter that home. It seems as though regardless of the daily stressful schedules and growing number of uprisings and wars in the world, that the life that leads to goodness and growth foes on. We sense the words of Christ: "Peace I give unto you as the world cannot give." [St. John 14:27]
Loss of Sense of Time – When we enter a home where holiness abides, the sense of time is forgotten. It is as though we have plenty of time for everything. We may have intended to spend two hours, but we end up spending much more. In fact, we don’t even feel like leaving that home. [cf. Psalm 90:4]
Joyful – We sense that we are joyful, happy and laughing. It is as though a large weight has been lifted from our hearts, and we can smile again, look at the brighter and happier side of life. No, we do not lose track of the difficulties and obstacles in life, but rather we see the joy in facing and overcoming them. Just as Christ said: "I say all these things so that my joy may be full in you." [St. John 15:11]
Singing – We hear the joyous sounds of singing. It is very difficult for us to sing when we are angry, depressed or our heart is full of hurt. Yet, when we enter such a home, it seems that we gain the strength and the motivation to sing. This reminds us of the fact that before his great moment of glory, after the Last Supper, even Christ sang the Psalms with his Disciples.
Hopeful – When we witness and be part of a household that truly believes that "God works all things for the good," we cannot help but be hopeful. Suddenly, those relationships and areas of life that seemed troublesome, no longer appear to be so. In fact all those difficulties that made us cringe getting up in the morning, become challenges that motivate us to get up in the morning.
Creative Inspiration – As we spend time with a family in a home that is blessed and upholds the Christian way of life, we too sense that there is a great deal we can accomplish in life. Yes, we too can have some control in life; in fact, we can have a great deal of control. Maybe we can’t control how others feel or what they say about us, but we can surely control how we respond to them! We discover that we do not have to simply survive, we can also live and attain our hopes in life. We realize that the light of Christ shines through us, just as he told us: "You are the light of the world." [St. Matthew 5:14]
A Sense of Purpose – Today, as various communication media create and present unrealistic images of the ‘ideal life,’ it is easy for us to have a sense of unworthiness and even uselessness. Yet, in a holy environment we sense that our life has a purpose and a direction. We realize that we have a path in life that will lead to someplace important. Our efforts will pay off. In fact, we come to discover that as Christians, we actually possess the more ideal understanding and way of life than the superficial forms that are often advertised. We discover that we truly "are the salt of the earth." [St. Matthew 5:13]
We Belong – We all have the need to belong as a person, a family and a community. When we begin sharing within an environment of holiness, we begin realizing that these ties give us a sense of belonging. We know that we belong to God, and that means to His people, the Church, and those that uphold the Christian way of life. It does not matter that we don’t know exactly how or that we can’t explain precisely why, but the key is that we have a sense of what it means ‘to belong.’ We know that if we need someone who can listen to us or with whom we can share our views and gain insight into life, we can turn to those in that household. We discover that we belong together because it is Christ, the Good Shepherd who brings us together, and "no one is able to snatch (us) out of the Father’s hand." [St. John 10:29]
When people visit us at home, we tend to clean it more than other times and prepare the best of foods and decorations in order to show our hospitality. Perhaps along with all these efforts, and perhaps more impressionable, is the holiness that prevails in our home. Our hospitality of food and fine china will certainly leave an impression. But our spiritual hospitality will leave a longer and even an eternal impression. They may like us and feel comfortable within our home when we show our hospitality through tasteful furniture and art pieces. But they will love us and forever be connected to us spiritually if they sense holiness in our home. We must add that this holiness in our home will come only when we partake of the Holiness that exists in the House of God, the Church. In fact, the holiness in our house is based upon and modeled after the Holiness that prevails in the House of God!
*****