Matthew 28:16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
Then Jesus approached and said to them,
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Today we read about the commissioning of the disciples. Jesus tells the disciples to “make disciples of all nations.” Sounds pretty simple right? Nope.
Let’s dive a little deeper into what it means to go and make disciples because I think as we read this passage we forget the importance and gravity of these words spoken by Jesus.
How do we know what making disciples looks like? Jesus has shown us. Jesus is our example to live by and to imitate. We must love like He loved. You must “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37 NABRE). Because the disciples spent so much time with Jesus they surely must have known Jesus better than most people. The disciples must have gotten a glimpse into Jesus’ heart, mind, and soul. That is the essence of our ministry as disciples of Jesus Christ. We are called to know Jesus’ heart, mind, and soul and share that with other people. We, ourselves, MUST have an intimate relationship with Jesus.
Teaching people about Jesus and about what it means to be a disciple is extremely important. However, teaching without action is ineffective. As disciples, we must be present with those who we teach. This means more than simply praying for people. (Praying for people is extremely important, please do not think I mean otherwise). We must pray WITH people. We must read Scripture WITH people. We must celebrate the Mass WITH people.
The world needs to see you do it first, merely telling someone what to do does not help them follow through. You have to show others how to live by doing it the right way in your own life to the best of your ability.
We must make disciples in the same manner Jesus did: by truly and deeply loving all those God has given to us.
If not you, then who?
Prayer
We pray that the fire of Jesus enkindled in us by God’s Spirit may lead more and more people in our land to become disciples, formed in the image of Christ our Savior.
Prayer taken from USCCB:
- usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/evangelization/go-and-make-disciples/conclusion_go_and_make_disciples.cfm
This article helped me reflect on this passage:
Catholicism Rekindled 