Lenten Reflection Day 21

If we could rewind time back to the days of early Christendom it might surprise us to see how these early disciples worshiped the Lord. Not long after the resurrection, the zeal of the faithful was palpable. They were ever eager to share the message of God with everyone and to increase the number of believers. The miracles Jesus worked, coupled with his teachings, his rising from the dead, and the sacred law gave way to a communal practice of honoring and praising God together, with friends and family. A family gathering became the usual way of honoring the law of keeping holy the sabbath. Being in the early advent of the church, and in fear of persecution, churches were not a possibility for them. Instead, they found ways to honor and glorify God right where they were with what they already had. It is here that this idea of a
‘domestic church’ was conceived. Christians have long maintained the idea that our homes are where we first discover God. The love of our parents, the sacrifices they made all for the good of the family, charity, sharing, forgiveness, etc. All of these Christian values on display within the home and among the people. The early church was born from this. These believers would gather their families and get together with other families to break bread and speak about the Lord. It was here that the Gospel messages would be proclaimed, the statutes and decrees of the Lord taught, instruction and encouragement to live out the Christian life would have been had, and children would have played and found friendship with other children with their same values and beliefs. Today, we would refer to this practice of communal worship of God, breaking bread, and instruction of God’s law, church. As we all face the next few weeks of social isolation, where attending our churches has been deemed unsafe, let us remember that our homes, our families, are where our faith practice begins.
CHALLENGE: Consider ways you and your family can honor God this week in your own domestic church, be it family prayer, lessons taught on the virtues of our faith, or spending quality time together in fellowship. May we all honor the Lord where we are and with the example of our lives.
Blessings to You and Yours!