Clean The House

Back in the past when I was living in Lae,  I used to tell my hausmeri to clean the house as if a king was going to visit.  She did what I said by heart.  My floor was always very shiny.  A friend who worked for a chemical company complimented that my house was very clean and the floor was sparkling shiny, it could be a model for their cleaning product.  She used to brush the verandah floor with soap and rinsed it really well that everytime I come from work there was never a trace of any dirt.   All tables were wiped, window glasses dusted off, ceiling washed and the living room was always spotless.  Anybody who came to the house felt relaxed and comfortable. Some of my friends even sat on the floor when they visited or watched tv with us. In the kitchen all plates, cups and glasses were stored away in the cupboard.  The stove was always stain-less.  The fridge filled with fruits and drinks that were ready to be served.  Everything was spick and span. Our goal: if a king suddenly visited the house, it will be an inviting and comfortable place to stay. Not to mention we, the occupants, would enjoy coming home after a hard day’s work.

This morning I remembered all this while I was cleaning my small house. I mopped the floor three times and disinfected it twice. I slowly removed the office papers that I left before we went overseas.  I did the laundry, re-arranged the plant pots (the plants dried up and died during the Taal volcano eruption).  I had to stop after lunch to prepare for the Good Friday activities.  I attended the FB Live Mass and the priest during homily asked, what will be the first place you will go after this ECQ?  One said “I will go to my jowa’s place”.  Another said, “  to McDonalds and places where we can eat good food.”  I then asked myself too, where would I go after this quarantine?  I will go to Church.  I will thank God for safe guarding me and my family.  I will attend the Mass and receive the Holy Communion.   It also came into my mind that our body is a Temple, a house of God. If I will receive the Holy Communion then it is like inviting the King into this Temple.  The Temple should be spotless so He can comfortably reside in It. After this quarantine the first place  I will go to is at the Church and “I will clean this house.”