BEGINNING FROM JERUSALEM

HOMILY FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

To begin a venture, one needs to properly choose a starting point. The starting point can make or mar the venture. But a good starting point assures progress and success. What makes a starting point good is its power of being a propellant. Propellant here implies the ability of a thing, place or person to become the first spring of the platform of success. The mechanisms of the spring determine the height of the person who uses it as the take-off arena. The success of people and institutions we consider successful is linked to their first spring. A weak spring will not make the one who jumps on it to soar very high, but a strong spring makes the one who jumps on it to soar high. Surely, ‘higher’ is higher than ‘high.’ This is the relevance of a good starting point. Learn to choose it well. Christians after the death and resurrection of Christ needed a good platform to diversify the Gospel to other countries and villages. This starting platform would greatly influence the success of the mission. In this lies the choice of Jerusalem as the place from which the Gospel would be spread.

In the Gospel Reading (Luke 24:35-48), the abrupt appearance of Jesus removed fear and doubts from the apostles. Christ gave them more courage and faith to believe and proclaim him; after which he made them aware of the salvific role of Christ which they must proclaim in clarity and courage. This is the proclamation seen from the mouth of Peter in the First Reading (Acts 3:13-15.17-19). The fearless Peter was sure of his message that Christ was risen. Having been made a strong witness of the message of resurrection and of repentance, he called the people to repentance. Do not forget that this message of Peter came after the healing of the lame beggar at the beautiful gate of the temple in Jerusalem. The proclamation he started on the Pentecost day he continued after the healing experience. This message began in Jerusalem. It was according to the instruction of Jesus that the message of resurrection and deliverance must begin from Jerusalem. And this instruction constitutes the last lap of the Gospel. Thus, Jerusalem was an enabling ground where it all started. It is the first city to be evangelized by the apostles. But why must it be Jerusalem?

1. Jerusalem was the capital of Israel. During the reign of King David, Jerusalem became the capital of Israel (2 Sam 6-11). In politics then, Jerusalem was a respected city. It is known as the dynasty of David. And Christ is the son of David. Thus, having the city as a starting point would give great honour and respect to the message. Not only that, it would also ensure the continuity of the dynasty of David in Christ whose message would be proclaimed therein. If the message would be preached in Jerusalem and be accepted by many, it is much easier then to preach it in other towns and villages.

2. Jerusalem was the seat of worship. It was regarded as a holy city. During the reign of King David, the Ark of the Covenant was brought down to Jerusalem (2 Sam 6), and subsequently, the temple was erected by Solomon. It is the place which God chose for his name to dwell there (Jer. 3:16; 2 Kings 21:4). Ever since, the Jerusalem temple became the most important edifice in the whole of Israel that brought people together. Jerusalem then became renowned for religious and pious activities. Thus, Jerusalem contains those who are religious and who understand so much the religious history of Israel. If the message begins in Jerusalem, then it will receive greater receptivity by the hearers than other cities who are merely interested in trade and economy.

3. Jerusalem has a theological symbol. Jerusalem would be constantly destroyed, but would also be constantly restored. But the restoration is always the work of God. It became a very important messianic conception. The restoration of Jerusalem is the work of God, and since Christ is God, then this restoration rested on the shoulders of Christ. This is where this message must start. It is the known earthly Jerusalem. It is the restoration of this earthly city of Jerusalem that can assure thetotal restoration of the heavenly city of Jerusalem, otherwise known as the New Jerusalem, where the millions of angels are gathered. The New Jerusalem is eternal. The vision in Apocalypse gives us the insight to confirm that the New Jerusalem is the kingdom of God. And Christ’s mission was to establish the kingdom of God, as he himself is the kingdom. So, starting the mission in Jerusalem has a strong theological motif which is in line with the history of salvation and redemption.

Now come the questions from which we draw few lessons: how do you choose your starting point? What do you when you are about to start? How do you make your starting point a good place to start?

The beginning of an endeavour is a nut not so easy to crack. There is involved great planning and thinking. To choose a starting point, you must look at your goal. You must know your intention and what you intend to achieve. You must scrutinize too whether that platform can land you to wherever you desire. Discover your territories well, and choose a friendly one. Making the choice of an enemy territory would surely ruin your dreams and goal. No wise man purposefully allows himself to be burnt by a blazing fire; the friendly, the better.

Charity begins at home. This is said with the view of home as a peaceful place; a place where progress is encouraged, and development is founded. When you are starting, the place you must remember is home. Be homely with your success. Do not decide to begin in a distant land. Jerusalem was the land of Jesus and the apostles. Begin from your hometown. Begin from your village. Begin the correction from your various families. Start the spiritual cleansing from your home. Start the message of repentance from your home.

In line with this, begin your business establishments in your home. Your wealth and riches have to be felt at home. Home here can mean ones village, family, community, Church, and working place. Some persons grow comfortable in looking outside than looking within. Make your family a priority. Many times, in death, friends withdraw. The carcass is then left in the hands of family members. To make the decision to offer your first salary to the parents who trained is not a bad decision, rather than waste it on things unimportant. These things are important because the first platform in life endeavours matters a lot.

Finally, Jesus is the beginning and the end. You must remember Jesus when you are about to start. Jesus must be your unseen foundation. This is because it is with Jesus that you can fly well. Jesus was with his apostles; that was why they succeeded. If you make Jesus your focus and locus, you will surely succeed. Cling to him, no matter the situation. This was the same admonition St. John gives us today in the Second Reading (1 John 2:1-5a). We have a father who desires the success of our mission, be it evangelical or professional. He is our advocate who does not abandon us. Even when we sin, he easily pardons. Begin your life with Jesus, so that you can end with Jesus. Happy new week to you. God bless you.