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Last Sunday I participated in the blessing of a home, a wonderful occasion to be part of especially at Thanksgiving.

The tradition of blessing a home probably goes back to the earliest days of the church when Christians broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, as Acts 2:46 says, or to the command to practice hospitality in such passages as Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:2, and 1 Peter 4:9. Whatever the origin of the blessing of a home, Christians' homes were to be places of rest, peace, trust, joy, truth, safety, togetherness, welcome, hospitality, holiness, family, and love.

The blessing of a home made me think of the occasions Jesus is in a home in the Gospels. Here are just a few.

Jesus healed the sick in a home (Mark 2:1-12).
Jesus raised the dead in a home (Mark 5:38-42).
Jesus restored sinners in a home (Luke 7:44-48).
Jesus taught Kingdom parables in a home (Matthew 13:36).
Jesus partied with sinners in a home (Matthew 9:10).
Jesus told his disciples to say, “Peace to this house” when they entered a home (Luke 10:5).
Jesus told Martha not to be anxious, but be like Mary and sit at his feet listening to his words in a home (Luke 10:38-42).
Jesus announced salvation in a home (Luke 19:9).
Jesus gave thanks and pointed to the cross by breaking bread and offering the cup in a home (Luke 22:10-20).
After his resurrection, Jesus appeared in a home (John 20:26).
Jesus told us our Heavenly Father prepares for us a home (John 14:2).

These are amazing reminders of how our homes can be places of blessing.

John 12:1-3 tells of another time Jesus was in a home. This passage says:

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

In this home in Bethany, Jesus received worship. Surely that’s the greatest privilege we exercise in our homes and the greatest blessing we have in our homes: our homes become places where Jesus is exalted and praised.

As we go about our regular routines in our homes, let's remember to give thanks for our homes – in the Gospels homes are the place blessed by Jesus in so many ways. May he do so in your and my home too.

視頻大意翻譯(Brief video Chinese translation):

大家早，歡迎參加今天的線上靈修。

 星期天的時候，我有榮幸可以為一個新家祝福，這是個特別的時刻，特別是在感恩節的此時。

為一個家祝福是個古老的基督教傳統。有人說這要回溯到早期教會時，基督徒在家裡一起擘餅，帶著喜樂和誠心一起吃，就如使徒行傳2:46說的。 有些人說這是來自羅馬書12:13, 希伯來書13:2 和彼得前書4:9裡面提到的要殷勤款待。基督徒的家因此成為一個地方可以休息，有平安，信任，喜樂，安全，聚集，歡迎，熱情，聖潔，家人和愛的地方。

在我準備簡短的祝福儀式時，我想到了耶穌有幾次在別人的家裡，就如以下:

耶穌在一個人家裡醫治了生病的人(馬可福音2:1-12)

耶穌在一個人家裡使死人復活(馬可福音5:38-42)

耶穌在一個人家裡使一個罪人得到恢復(路加福音 7:44-48)

耶穌在一個人家裡教導天國的比喻(馬太福音13:36)

耶穌在一個人家裡與罪人同開派對(馬太福音 9:10)

耶穌告訴祂的門徒”無論進那一家、先要說、願這一家平安” (路加福音 10:5)

耶穌在一個家裡告訴馬大不要憂慮，要像瑪麗亞一樣在祂的腳前聽祂的話語(路加福音 10:38-42)

耶穌在一個家裡宣告了救贖(路加福音 19:9)

耶穌在一個家裡祝謝了，藉著擘餅和杯指向十字架(路加福音 22:10-20)

在祂復活之後，耶穌在一個人家裡出現 (約翰福音20:26)

耶穌告訴我們天父為我們準備了一個家 (約翰福音14:2)

這些都提醒我們家可以如何成為一個祝福的地方，但，讓我們來讀另一處經文，是在約翰福音12:1-3:

逾越節前六日、耶穌來到伯大尼、就是他叫拉撒路從死裏復活之處。有人在那裏給耶穌預備筵席．馬大伺候、拉撒路也在那同耶穌坐席的人中。馬利亞就拿着一斤極貴的真哪噠香膏、抹耶穌的腳、又用自己頭髮去擦．屋裏就滿了膏的香氣。

這段經文裡，耶穌在一個人的家裡受到敬拜。當然這是在我們家裡可得到的最大祝福。我們的家成為一個耶穌被高舉和讚美的地方。

這一周，當你收拾床鋪，準備早餐，刷牙，洗衣，吸塵，丟垃圾，掛衣服，看電視，或歡迎別人時，記得為你的家感恩-在福音書裡，那是耶穌祝福的地方。願祂也祝福你家。

讓我們禱告。

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum