May 7, 2023 Fifth Sunday of Easter Many years ago, we took our family on an epic camping trip to northern Ontario. But this is not about our trip. We routed the way home to go thru Gaylord, because we had been asked to be Godparents for the daughter of some friends. When we left home, we packed our “church clothes” for all of us and decided that the night prior to the baptism, we’d stay in a hotel. (Trying to get five people all dressed up in a pop-up camper can be daunting.) I had wanted to get a reservation, but she said not to worry. “Don’t worry,” she said. “We’ll find a place, no problem.” (You can see where this is going can’t you?) It was getting late, so we decided to stop in Mackinaw City and see the lights on the Bridge that evening. We started stopping at one hotel after the other and all of them were fully booked. It started to look like we were going to spend the night in a Walmart parking lot in the camper. There was one more hotel left to try, so we pulled in. She came out a few moments later with a pained look on her face. “They do have one room left, so I booked it.” “What’s the bad news?” I asked. “It’$ the Presidential $uite.” Fortunately, the view of the lights on the bridge that night was spectacular. This trip comes to mind when I hear the beginning of today’s Gospel. “In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.” [Jn 14:2a]I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that I won’t have to pay for a Suite when I get to heaven. Jesus has already made a reservation for me and it can’t be cancelled. What a relief! And yet, there are so many people who think that they have to DO something in order to qualify for a room. Some feel they need to follow particular rules, or all the rules. Some think they need to memorize the Bible. Some think they need to log a certain number of hours in service. Some think they have to recruit a specific number of people to the faith to qualify. That is so sad, and such a waste of time and effort. Jesus tells us that the room is ready – just come. Now, there is nothing wrong with service, and Bible reading, and prayer and all of those things. In fact, they are highly advised. They are great to prepare my heart, so that I can share the Good News that a room is waiting for all with everyone I meet. And that is what I am called to do. But those things are not requirements for reserving your room. I just need to make sure that I tell everyone. It doesn’t matter how tall or short, big or small, what color your face is, your gender, how you identify your gender, or how long your hair is. Jesus wants all of us in heaven with him. He said so! “If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.” [Jn 14:2b] That gives me such peace to know that I will not be spending eternity in a pop-up camper in a Walmart parking lot. I’ll be praising God with all of humankind in a room set aside for me by my Lord. Every Day.