IT’S ALL ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD!
A meditation by the Rev. Dr. James G. Kirk
Harundale Presbyterian Church
Text: “Do not hold on to me.” (John 20:17)
First
Second
Two
newsworthy events happened this past week, both of which were all about the
neighborhood. In fact, they both
happened this past Tuesday. The first
was when William Kirwan announced that he was returning to
The other event was Bob Ehrlich’s decision to run for governor. Where did he make his announcement? At his parent’s home, where he grew up in Arbutus. He’s going to make one of the focal points of his race the fact that he’s a grass-roots type of person. What better way to do that than to return to his old neighborhood, have all the neighbors who remembered him growing up, celebrate the accomplishments he made since childhood and glean some support as a down to earth, home grown candidate. It’s all about the neighborhood!
Last Sunday, we welcomed our communicant’s class. How proud we were to see those fifteen youth stand and confess their faith in Jesus Christ. It was all about the neighborhood. We want them to feel safe in this sanctuary. We want them to express themselves in this sanctuary. We want them to grow with us and teach us what it means to live as Christian disciples. We want them to feel welcome in this neighborhood and always have fond memories of the time they spent here. That’s why the crisis in the Catholic Church is so disturbing. Those people suing the church over improper priestly behavior are saying their neighborhood wasn’t a safe place for them.
Last Monday
evening we had a very good discussion about the free lunch program. Now that Chris Wolfe has announced her
retirement the Session has to decide its future. The discussion had to do with the
neighborhood. Some people feel the
program brings an unseemly element into the church. Others say that’s exactly why we need to keep
the program. We need to serve the
neighborhood, and especially those who some would consider unseemly. It’s very interesting that God chose
Mary’s search for Jesus was all about the neighborhood. She knew where they had lain him. They’d been over the whole area many times in the past. She wanted him back. She wanted things to be the way they’d been. If she couldn’t have that then at least she’d know that he’d had a proper burial. You can imagine her fear and frustration when the tomb was empty. What had they done with her “Rabbouni?” Then the completely unexpected happened. The person she thought to be the gardener called her by name. Could it all have been a terrible nightmare? Could her Rabbouni be alive? Of course, she reached out to hug him. She would never let him leave her again. “Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father.’”
The problem was, the neighborhood had changed. Jesus knew it, but Mary didn’t. She would soon figure it out though and before long run to tell the disciples that she had seen the Lord. Christ was alive! Death wasn’t the victor. God was in charge. God had in one glorious event scooped Jesus unto himself and won the day for all humankind. God moved into our neighborhood and claimed it as God’s own. From this day forth we will live in God’s neighborhood.
What’s it like to live in God’s neighborhood? Well, we have to take our neighbors very seriously, oftentimes whether we like them or not, mainly because God loves them and Christ died for them as well. We have to let them be themselves, because that’s who God created them to be. God didn’t create them to be just like us, which would soon become rather boring, because there are times when we don’t like ourselves either.
In God’s neighborhood we invite strangers to come eat at our table where Christ is the host. Table fellowship is very important, because it helps us remember who we are and whose we are. Table fellowship also helps us to make sure that everyone’s needs are met, particularly those who for whatever reason can’t take care of themselves. Around the table it helps to pray a lot, especially for God to give us strength to become better caregivers, or sometimes just for guidance, so that we don’t get in the way of what God wants us to be doing.
The best part about God’s
neighborhood is wherever you are you’re already in it. There’s no “You are now entering” or “Thank
you for visiting” signs anywhere to be found.
There’s just a huge welcome mat and a sign that reads, “Remember, that
no matter what happens, God is in charge.
Relax, since God is in charge and get busy, showing everyone you
believe!” (The concept of God’s neighborhood is from an article by Sallie
McFague, “Intimate Creation, God’s Body,
our Home,” Christian Century,
Have a Blessed Easter!
Amen