When we think of home, what comes to mind will be a number of warm and cozy thoughts and feelings.
Because home is a place where we can call our own, be ourselves, feel comfortable and have a good and peaceful rest.
Any other place, no matter how nice or enjoyable can never be like home.
The 1st reading prophesied that the Lord will lead back and bring home the descendants of the House of Israel from all the countries where they were dispersed so that they will live on their own soil.
So the People of God will go home and live under the protection of the Lord God.
That is true freedom and with that, they will be able to worship God in a place that they can truly call their own.
In the gospel, the angel also used the word home. He told Joseph to take Mary home as his wife.
And that is also to prepare a place for Jesus as He comes into the world.
For Jesus, His home is in heaven, but He came from heaven to make His home with us.
He did that so that He can in turn bring us home to heaven.
Let us prepare a home for Jesus in our hearts during this Advent season.
When Jesus makes His home in our hearts, then we will also know what it feels like to be in heaven.