5th Sunday of Easter, Year A

Today's Gospel reading says, "There are many rooms in my Father's house." Isn't "Father's house" our hometown? For me, hometown is "father." My father passed away a few years ago, but I still clearly remember something he once told me:
"Whatever path your life takes, the doors of your hometown will remain open for you."
I think these words have two meanings. First, you will always be a son to your family. Even if you become a priest, their love for you will never change. No matter where you are sent as a missionary, you cannot sever the bonds of family. Second, it refers to "home." A physical home may one day disappear. But the feeling of home is everywhere.
Home is not the place where you were born, but the place where you find light when darkness covers you. Home is not a place, but the people who live there. Even if you return to a house where they are gone, it is no longer home. Feeling homesick is nothing bad. It means you come from a happy family. The sun at home is warmer than the sun anywhere else. Home is where our story begins. Society only desires the part of a flower that blooms, from the stem upwards, and shows no interest whatsoever in its roots. But home cherishes everything about us.

We may have slept countless nights in deep sorrow, overwhelmed by the harshness of life. But no matter how terrible our lives may be, our hometown allows us to start again the next day.

Home, as a physical place, will one day disappear. As long as our parents live in our hometown, we all long to return. Once they pass away, there will be no reason to return. For those who live away from home, it is a source of purpose and hope. It is also home that enables us to live a righteous life. In this world, home is the safest and most beautiful place. That is why everyone longs to return. Even if a person loses all their possessions, as long as they have a hometown to return to, everyone can take a new step forward. Because home is a great support for living.

For those of us here, home is "where God is." Isn't it heaven? Remember that the doors of heaven are always open for us.

Looking back, life is so short and fleeting. It's like morning dew; it shines brightly in the morning and is blown away by the midday wind. No matter how busy you are, don't forget to spend more time with those close to you, especially your family and loved ones. Do better for them too. Doing good is good. So never stop doing good. If you're lucky, you'll meet good people. If not, good people will find you. Let's keep doing good until God calls each of us back to heaven. With these thoughts in mind, let's embark on this week's journey.