Every time we pray – whether it’s a simple whispering of “Jesus, help me” or something a little more formal like the Rosary – we’re doing more than just talking to God. We’re extending an invitation. And sometimes – without even realizing it – we’re praying something that can be a little dangerous and not in a bad way. Because when we say, “Jesus, I want You in my life,” what we’re really saying to the Lord is, “Jesus, I invite You to dwell with me.” To move in. To take up residence. To not just be a guest, but to be the Lord of the house.

That’s exactly what Jesus talks about in today’s Gospel when He says: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” God wants to dwell in us. And sure, that sounds comforting – and it is. But it’s also really challenging; it can be kind of frightening. Because when God moves in, He doesn’t just admire the décor, He doesn’t just like the way the house looks or how the furniture is placed. He begins a renovation. Not because He’s controlling, but because He’s loving.

There’s something I often say in the confessional and I also say it quite often in homilies, but it’s something that we can always be reminded of…and it’s an important aspect of who God is for us. Many of you have heard me say this: “God is a gentleman. He doesn’t go anywhere that He is not first invited to go.” He knocks on the door of our hearts. He waits. He respects our freedom. But when we finally come around to inviting Him in, don’t be surprised if He begins to change things.

He goes into the room where we’ve stored old unforgiveness and He tells us, “This can’t stay.” He walks through the hallway lined with pride and ego and He gently begins replacing it with humility. He unlocks the door to the junk room in the house – we all have them – where shame, guilt, and regrets are buried, and He says, “Let’s bring My light here.”

That’s when we start to realize: Jesus isn’t here just for a brief moment of time. God isn’t just visiting for the weekend. He’s moving in – to dwell, to live, to make our soul His home.

But Jesus also tells us that faith, spirituality, relationship with Him isn’t about emotional highs or inspiration that comes and goes. He tells us that true relationship with God is about obedience. Scripture tells us: “Whoever loves me will keep my word.” To love Jesus isn’t just to feel close to Him. It’s to do what He says. It’s to let His word rewire how we think, reorder what we value, reshape how we act. In the end, that’s how we find peace – not the world’s version of peace, because that depends on everything going our way. But Jesus wants to give each of us His peace.

Jesus says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” His peace doesn’t require our lives to be perfect; we don’t need to necessarily have it all together to experience it. The peace that comes from the Lord only requires that we have a heart that’s made room for Him. A heart that’s given Him not just the guest room, but the whole house.

So this week, pray the dangerous prayer. Tell the Lord: “Jesus, I invite You to dwell in me completely. And don’t leave anything untouched.” Then watch and listen. What does He want to bring healing to? What is He asking us to surrender? What room in our hearts are we still keeping locked?

Jesus will never force His way in. But if we give Him the master key to the house, He will dwell in us. And where God dwells, peace follows. Today, let’s ask ourselves: Are we just letting Jesus visit…or have we truly made room for Him to dwell with us forever?

Stained Glass: Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock in Saint Mary of the Presentation Catholic Church (Geneva, Indiana). Photo taken by Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.