DO YOU HAVE A PLACE TO ENCOUNTER GOD?*

If you go to some homes, especially houses of Catholics, It is easy to identify them with the presence of an Altar in the house. In many Catholic homes, you will either find the Altar of the Sacred Heart  of Jesus and Immaculate heart of Mary, Legion of Mary, St Anthony of Padua, St Jude or any other devotion. These altars bring to consciousness the presence of God in the house. For many families, they meet around the Altar to pray in the morning and evening. Children who are brought up in that spiritual atmosphere, become very conscious of the presence of God in their homes and families. 
In the first reading of today, we see that after building the temple, King Solomon decided to move the ark of the covenant to the temple to bring to consciousness the presence of God among the people. The temple therefore became a formal point of encounter with God. 
The presence of images in the church are very helpful in directing and redirecting our minds and hearts to God. It is very important therefore that as Catholics, we have a point of meeting God in our homes apart from the church. We should have an Altar erected in our homes, invite a priest today to erect and consecrate an Altar for you if you have none. Many Christians are not easily conscious that God is always with them and around them, they have no place to pray and encounter God. 
In all Catholic churches, God is present and can be reached just as Solomon did today. The tabernacle housed the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament, but today, the tabernacle is where we can encounter God in the blessed sacrament. Let us draw closer to God, and we will be happy. 

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP.