Matthew 28,16-20
The year (B) gospel reading for this great feast is borrowed from Matthew’s Gospel’s Great Missionary Mandate. The eleven disciples go to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. Mountains are places of revelation throughout this gospel (Eg Sermon on the Mount, the Transfiguration). Seeing the risen Jesus, they fell down before him as did the Magi in the beginning of the gospel. Since this is Jesus’ first post-resurrection appearance to his disciples (in
Matthew), we can understand why some disciples doubted – probably more caution than difficulties with faith. There is a resonance of the “little faith” shown by the disciples when Jesus walked on the water (14,31). Jesus approached his prostrate disciples. The only other time in this gospel when Jesus is said to approach his disciples was after the Transfiguration when he approached Peter, James and John. The glorious risen Lord bridges the gap between himself and his prostrate disciples by approaching and speaking to them.
Through his resurrection Jesus has received from his Father total power over the whole universe. This cosmic power, resonant of Daniel 7,13f, entrusted to him as Son of Man enables him, (“therefore”), to inaugurate a mission to the whole world for his disciples. The previous mission in 10,5-6 was to the Jews only – “not Gentiles, nor Samaritans.” This mission and commission has three parts. First, they are to make disciples of all the nations. A disciple is one who follows Jesus, obeys his teaching, accepts his death and resurrection and proclaims him as Son of Man, Lord of heaven and earth. The second part is to baptise those newly-made disciples in the name of the Trinity – the Trinitarian aspect is reminiscent of the Lord’s own baptism. The third part of the commission is teaching them to observe all that he had commanded them – the detailed instruction and the moral teaching of Jesus. His final word is a reassuring promise to be with them to the close of the age, the end of the world. Jesus came as Emmanuel (God with us, Mt 1,23); he promised to be with us when two or three pray together in his name (18,20); and here he assures his disciples and the church that he will stay with them until the end of time. In Mt’s gospel Jesus does not ascend into heaven, but stays with its church till the close of the ages. Jesus who has received all authority, in heaven and earth everywhere), commissioned his disciples to make disciples of all nations (everybody), to baptise them in the name of the all-powerful Trinity, to teach them to observe all he commended them and he is with them always – to the end of time. These universals convey a sense of fullness and completion.
At a time when certain elements of the media and other critics are writing off the church as in terminal decline we should be encouraged by the Lord’s promise to be with it to the end of the age.
We have a part to play in the church’s mission to all nations. The Lord depends on us to play our part. We can pray for this work, support it financially, and volunteer some of our time to help in this work in our own parish, – by becoming part of the Baptism or Confirmation preparation programmes.
Fr Geoff O’Grady