FROM JERUSALEM TO GLEN BURNIE

A sermon by the Rev. Dr. Marie Sheldon

Harundale Presbyterian Church

Glen Burnie, Maryland

May 4, 2003

Text: “And he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem’” (Luke 24: 46-47)

Scripture Passage: Luke 24: 36-48

I would guess that for most of us gathered for worship this morning, Easter 2003 is already beginning to fade from memory. Oh, we can still recall the colorful flowers, the glorious music (especially Terry’s Widor Toccata) and the pews filled with so many more people than usual, the holiday meal shared with loved ones. But most of us tend to be pragmatists – and while we cherish fond memories – many of us prefer to get on with other things once a holiday is behind us. Well, for better or for worse, this morning’s lesson from the Gospel of Luke puts a damper on our pragmatism – because its author has thrust us right back into the day of Resurrection. Or – to be more precise – into the night of Resurrection. Jesus has indeed risen, the empty tomb has been discovered, and Luke shares with us that shortly after two disciples who had encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus reported the event to the remaining disciples in Jerusalem, Jesus suddenly appeared in the midst of them – in the Jerusalem room where they’d barricaded themselves. The emotional responses of the folks in that room spanned the gamut. Luke tells us that they were terrified, startled, full of doubt, incredulous, overjoyed yet wondering.

And – can we blame them? I think not. Jesus had to deal with a number of emotional obstacles before he could get his message across to his followers.

First of all, Jesus had to convince the disciples that he was real – that he was not a figment of their imagination – and that he was not a ghost from the eerie world of the supernatural. This was not an easy task. The first-century community of Jews was a feet-on-the-ground people. The Jews were renowned for being concrete and specific in terms of the reality that surrounded them. It was just plain scary for them to encounter the Master they had loved as a ghost. And so Jesus reassured them with a soothing question: “Why are you frightened and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” And then, Jesus shows them his Good Friday wounds. Following, is my favorite part of the story. Jesus asks if there is anything to eat – and enjoys a piece of broiled fish that he eats as they watch. I guess one could say the first church potluck super took place on that first Easter Sunday evening.

Once Jesus had gotten the disciples over their initial disbelief and bewilderment, he could assume the role for which they knew him best. He could become their teacher, their rabbi, once again. And he enlightened his friends by walking them through the Scriptures – telling them why the events of Holy Week had to happen – and that the message of Easter – the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins that came about through his resurrection from the grave was to be proclaimed to all nations – beginning from Jerusalem. The job of proclamation was to fall on Jesus’ followers – on the disciples and on us.

Well, after the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples in Jerusalem, the message of repentance and forgiveness did filter down to all the nations. The message even made it to Glen Burnie, and that’s why we’re here this morning.

If the proclamation that began in Jerusalem is to continue, church members (like the upper room disciples) have to get out and proclaim it. That means shedding the role of pew warmer and getting one’s hands dirty doing the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. It means doing more than coming to church on Sunday morning. It means visiting the sick and the elderly, teaching in Sunday School, singing in the choir, becoming active members of a church committee, serving our presbytery, testifying at work, at home and at play that God is the one in whom we live and move and have our being. That’s what proclamation is all about.

The message of repentance and forgiveness of sins that Jesus asked us to share is too exciting, too broad, too all-encompassing to remain within the confines of Harundale Presbyterian Church. Just as Christ’s message was destined to flow out of that room in Jerusalem, so it must cascade out of this church and out of the church of Jesus Christ at large. That can only happen if we make it happen.

Our custom in this church is to provide some quiet, introspective time when the elements of communion are served. I invite you to use that time to ponder the idea that Jesus called each of us to be a witness – to proclaim the good news of Easter. But don’t stop with that concept. Make the idea real for yourselves. Look at your life – really examine it -- and search out opportunities where you can make the mandate of proclamation happen. Don’t stop there either. Get more concrete. Figure out how you’re going to go about the task.

Yes – the Good News began in Jerusalem. Let’s continue, through sharing in the ministry of our church, to keep it alive in Glen Burnie, the greater Baltimore region and beyond.

Amen and thanks be to God.