Go and tell… Matthew 28: 7, 8 & 10

Easter, Year A

I love to tell the story of unseen things above; of Jesus and his glory;  of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story; because I know 'tis  true; it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do. 

James, an MTA bus mechanic, told the story of Jesus during church  gathering for men. One day at work, he heard another mechanic  slamming tools and shouting obscenities at the bus he was repairing.  James asked, what’s wrong? The mechanic replied, everything! I have to  make breakfast, do my daughter’s hair, get the kids to school, and then  come here to fix these broken down buses. James listened as the  mechanic continued, since my wife died, I have to do everything, and I  don’t know what I’m doing. My daughter cries because I brush her hair  too hard then she puts a hat on her head because the kids at school make  fun of her hair. James spoke, don’t beat yourself up; come to church with  me. There are women there who would love to do your daughter’s hair  while teaching you how brush and braid it. You’re not alone. Jesus, from  the cross, asked John to look after his mother. James in the bus depot  invited his colleague to allow church ladies help him manage his  daughter’s hair. 

Sara, a retired bank teller attended church every Sunday, but did not  receive Communion. When I asked her why she never took Communion,  Sara explained she had stopped receiving Communion in her twenties  after causing the death of a friend. Sara described the night she went out  partying. She and her friends danced and drank the whole night. When it  was time to go home, nearly everyone in her crew walked or took a taxi  home. One of her friends drove. The friend who drove, never got home.  He died crashing his car. As he got into his car, Sara said good night to him, but she did not encourage him to take a cab or take away his keys.  She blamed herself for his death. Many years past before Sara could even  enter a church. When she finally started attending church she worshipped  without receiving Communion. In the forty years since that night Sara had  not taken Communion. Sara believed she had sinned against “her  brother.” The person she needed to make amends with was dead so she  had no way “to be reconciled before coming to the altar” as The Book of Common Prayer and Bible direct. (BCP page 376 & Matthew 5:23, 24)  After a series of conversations, Sara decided she needed to start over.  She reaffirm her baptismal vows during the Easter Vigil Service then  received Communion for the first time in decades. Shortly after, she  trained to be a Eucharistic Visitor. Until Sara was no longer able to get out  and about on her own, she attended church, received Communion, and  carried Communion to shut-in members every week. When members  teased Sara saying she was acting like a priest, she responded by telling  this story. Sara closed her story by declaring, she did not want elderly and  sick members to suffer the separation from Jesus she had endured. 

Arnold told a story about his son Timothy while delivering a Lent  mediation. Timothy has downs syndrome. Though his son had many  limitations, Jesus blessed Timothy with the gift of reconciliation. His son  was a peace maker. Whenever there were disagreements at home,  Timothy made the warring parties hug, kiss, and makeup. No one was  allowed to go to bedtime angry. Arnold said Timothy was so persistent  and insistent his family eventually gave up arguing and fighting.  Disagreements were pointless because Timothy would make them hug  and kiss their anger away. Timothy’s love, like God’s love, had the power  to transform relationships and restore peace. 

I changed the names and details in each story to protect the privacy of my  former church members. I tell their stories because they are examples of  evangelism.  

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary in the Gospel reading (Matthew  28:1-10) were evangelists. The angel and Jesus directed them to disciple  the disciples. The Marys story got the men out of hiding and back into the  mission field. After Jesus’ death, the Marys visited his tomb. Mary and  Mary chose to cope with Jesus’ death with love. Since they could not love  a living Jesus they resolved to love his lifeless body. They carried water,  spices, oil, and linen to wash, anoint, and shroud his body for burial.  When the Marys arrived, an angel rolled away the stone. The sight, sound,  and motion of the angel’s effort moved the earth. It felt like an earth  quake. The soldiers guarding the tomb were paralyzed by the sights,  sounds, and motion. They were silent and still, like dead men. The angel  spoke tenderly saying, do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus.  He is not here. He is risen. Look into the tomb and see for yourselves.  The women looked, but the soldiers did not. The men were paralyzed by  fear. The soldiers were afraid because they failed to keep the tomb  secure. They would be punished by the authorities. The love the Marys  had for and experienced from Jesus assuaged their fears. The soldiers  had nothing to assuage their fear. They had neither known nor heard  stories about Jesus. The angel directed the Marys, go and tell the others.  The women left immediately. As they ran from the tomb, they ran right into  Jesus. Jesus also spoke tenderly to them saying, do not be afraid. Jesus  issued the same direction as the angel. He told them to go and tell others.  Love caste out their fear. Joy strengthened their nerves. Because the Marys told others what they experienced, the mission of Jesus resumed  making it possible for us to celebrate Easter. 

What has God made possible for you? How has God touched those you  love? Where and when have you experienced God’s presence? Tell the  story of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love. You don’t have to  memorize Scripture. You don’t have to know theology or church history.  Simply describe what God has done. Tell others about the time when you  were lost and God found you. Describe how your rose up like a phoenix  out of ashes. Recount the story of being carried when you could not  manage on your own. Tell your story. 

I love to tell the story of unseen things above; of Jesus and his glory;  of Jesus and his love. I love to tell the story; because I know 'tis  true; it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do. I love to tell the story 'twill be my theme in glory; to tell the old, old  story of Jesus and his love. I love to tell the story for those who know it best; seem hungering  and thirsting to hear it like the rest. And when, in scenes of glory I  sing the new, new song 'twill be the old, old story that I have loved  so long. I love to tell the story 'twill be my theme in glory; to tell the old, old  story of Jesus and his love.