My dear brothers and sisters, today is Mission Sunday. Through the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives His disciples a mission to accomplish. From this short passage, we can learn three things.
First, Trust and Obedience:
Obedience and trust in God are not highly touted virtues in today's society, yet obedience to Jesus' command to go to Galilee was the door that gave the apostles access to Christ.
Any one of the apostles was free to go his own way, but that way would not necessarily lead him to the vision of the Risen Christ. They had trusted him until this point, and they showed by going that they were ready to entrust their lives entirely to his guidance.
When we are obedient to the Word of God, to Christ's teachings, to the teachings of the Church, we are giving God free rein to live in us and to act through us.
Obedience of this kind is possible only when we commit ourselves to the Lord, when we trust in him and exercise a living faith that he wishes to guide us through his appointed instruments.
Second, Doubt Is an Invitation:
"Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 124). Following Jesus is a challenge because he does not always allow us to perceive his presence.
At times we see him acting clearly in our lives; at other times we doubt, just as the disciples did. Instead of causing us alarm, moments of doubt in our hearts should be countered by a firm decision to trust in him always. Christ drew closer to them precisely when the disciples doubted.
At the moment when their vision was clouded, he reassured them: "All power in heaven and earth has been given to me." Do I turn my mind and heart to Our Lord as soon as my spirit is troubled?
Third, With God Everything Is Possible:
Jesus wants to share his power with us, and he does so through the Sacraments, beginning with Baptism.
With his power he also gives us a share in his mission: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations." Friendship with Jesus is also a commitment to teach others to share in the joy of knowing and loving him.
Our relationship with Jesus broadens our horizons because we share in his life and in the life of the Father and of the Holy Spirit.
The mission to make disciples of all nations might seem daunting, but God himself is on our side: "Behold, I am with you always." So our trust in the Lord widens the narrow horizon of our own self-seeking.
We need to commit our ways to the Lord so that we can be loyal instruments of his mercy and love. We are called to fulfill his command to spread his message far and wide.