"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."
(Matthew 28:19-20)
The disciples, who had been with Jesus throughout His ministry, had doubts when they saw the resurrected Jesus. This doubt is not so much about unbelief, but more about the cognitive dissonance that arises from unusual, even unbelievable, circumstances. Doubt is a part of faith, and it’s okay to have questions and uncertainties. Being a disciple is not just about believing in Jesus, but also about following His teachings and sharing them with others. The Great Commission is not just about spreading the word, but also about teaching others to obey what Jesus has commanded. This underscores the importance of living out the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives.
16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped, but they doubted. 18 Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)
In the ministry's light, they walked His way, disciples of old, in faith and fray. Yet when before them, the Resurrected lay, doubt clouded their minds, in disarray. Not of unbelief, their hearts did sway, but of dissonance, in the light of day. Unusual, unbelievable, in every way, yet, it's okay to question, it's okay to say. Faith, you see, is not just a bay, where doubt and questions are kept at bay. It's a journey, a path, a lifelong play, where questions and uncertainties, too, have a say. To be a disciple, is not just to pray, but to follow His teachings, come what may. To share His word, to spread His ray, to live His commandments, every day. The Great Commission, is not child's play, it's not just about spreading the word, come what may. It's about teaching others, leading the way, to obey His commandments, without delay. So, live out His teachings, don't just say, for actions speak louder, in every way. Remember, He's with us, come what may, to the very end of age, as the scriptures say.
Dear Lord Jesus, we come before You, acknowledging our journey of faith, a journey filled with awe, yet shadowed by doubt. We've seen Your works, Your miracles, Your might, yet in the face of the unbelievable, we've known fright. We confess, O Lord, that doubts have arisen, when faced with the unusual, our faith has been shaken. Yet we know that doubt is not unbelief, but a part of faith, a part of our journey's motif. We understand, O Lord, that being Your disciple, is not just about belief, but a commitment ample. To follow Your teachings, to share Your word, to live out Your commandments, to make Your voice heard. The Great Commission, O Lord, we comprehend, is not just about spreading Your word to the world's end. But about teaching others, about showing the way, to obey Your commandments, to not go astray. Help us, O Lord, to live out Your teachings, to be Your hands and feet, to all who are reaching. To share Your love, Your grace, Your truth, in our daily lives, in old age and youth. In Your name, we pray, Amen.
The Lord is God and there is no other. There is no other god who has done great and awesome deeds in our lives. His love and power has delivered us from our enemies and performed miracles to save us. Obedience in our relationship with God brings blessings of prosperity and longevity of life. It is through obedience that we express our love for God and experience His blessings. We should always recognize God’s uniqueness, experience His love, obey His commands, and acknowledge His sovereignty in our lives.
32 Moses said to the people: “Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of? 33 Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live? 34 Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors, all of which the Lord, your God, did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? 39 This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart, that the Lord is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other. 40 You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you forever.” (Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40)
In the vast expanse of the cosmos, one truth stands tall, the Lord is God, and there is no other, He surpasses all. No other deity has shown such might, performed great deeds, brought dark to light. His love, His power, like a protective tower, delivers us from foes, in our darkest hour. Miracles He performs, in His infinite ways, a beacon of hope, in our troubled days. Obedience to Him, a path so bright, brings blessings abundant, and life's delight. Prosperity and longevity, gifts from above, expressions of His unending love. In our journey with God, obedience is key, it's how we express our love, for the Almighty. Through obedience, His blessings we receive, a testament to the love, when in Him we believe. Recognize His uniqueness, experience His love, obey His commands, sent from above. Acknowledge His sovereignty, in life's every stride, for the Lord is God, and there's no one beside.
Dear Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that You are God and there is no other. No other god has done great and awesome deeds in our lives as You have. Your love and power have delivered us from our enemies, and performed miracles to save us. We understand that obedience in our relationship with You brings blessings of prosperity and longevity of life. It is through obedience that we express our love for You, and experience Your blessings. Help us to always recognize Your uniqueness, to experience Your love, to obey Your commands, and to acknowledge Your sovereignty in our lives. We thank You for Your unending love and mercy. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
God’s care is for those who fear Him and hope in His steadfast love. Everything God says and does is upright and trustworthy. Everything came into existence through His word. We can always depend on God in times of trouble and to trust in His provision and protection. Let us place our hope in God, not in worldly things, and continually seek His love and mercy.
4 Upright is the word of the Lord, and all his works are trustworthy. 5 He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full. 6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made; by the breath of his mouth all their host. 9 For he spoke, and it was made; he commanded, and it stood forth. 18 See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, 19 to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. 20 Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help and our shield. 22 May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you. (Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22)
In the realm where fear and reverence reside, God's care is a beacon, a comforting tide. For those who in His steadfast love, confide, find solace in His presence, a constant guide. His words, like a symphony, in truth are dyed, upright and trustworthy, in Him, we confide. Through His divine utterance, life is supplied, everything in existence, His word implied. In times of trouble, when tempests collide, on God, we depend, in His shelter, we hide. His provision, protection, forever our stride, in His unending mercy, we take pride. Our hope in God, a flame that never died, not in worldly things that only misguide. in His love and mercy, we continually abide, a journey with God, an eternal ride.
Dear Heavenly Father, in the quiet of our hearts, we acknowledge Your care, for those who fear You, and in Your steadfast love, share. Your words and actions, upright and trustworthy, declare, everything came into existence through Your word, fair. In times of trouble, on You, we depend, aware, Trusting in Your provision, under Your protective care. Our hope in You, not in worldly things, we swear, continually seeking Your love, Your mercy, our prayer. Help us to remember, in every moment, everywhere, that Your love is our refuge, beyond compare. In Your mercy, we find solace, beyond despair, in Your love, we find hope, a breath of fresh air. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are His children. The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children and heirs with Christ. The term “Abba, Father” signifies our intimate, personal relationship with God. We can approach God with the same closeness and trust as a child would approach their loving father. We are part of God’s family, and this should influence how we see ourselves and how we interact with others. Let us seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives, allowing it to lead us in our decisions and actions. Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
14 Brothers and sisters: Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children ofGod, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:14-17)
In the dance of life, by the Spirit, we're led, God's children, His heirs, on His path, we tread. The Spirit whispers, a truth widespread, we are God's children, by His love, we're fed. "Abba, Father," our hearts have said, an intimate call, by His Spirit, we're led. Like a child to a father, without any dread, in His loving arms, our fears are shed. Part of God's family, in His love, we're bred, this truth should guide us, in His light, we're led. Our interactions, by His love, are spread, in His image, our lives are thread. Guided by the Spirit, in our actions, we're led, in our decisions, by His wisdom, we're fed. Though sufferings may come, in His promise, we're wed, for the glory to come, outshines the dread.
Dear Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that those led by Your Spirit are Your children, a truth so profound, it brightens our burdens. The Spirit testifies with our spirit, in a chorus unbroken, that we are Your children, a truth forever spoken. We call You “Abba, Father”, a term so dear, signifying our relationship with You, so clear. With the same trust and closeness, as a child to their father, we approach You, God, there's no one rather. Part of Your family, we stand tall, this truth influences how we see ourselves, overall. It guides our interactions, it's Your love we install, in our hearts, in our lives, in our actions, we enthrall. We seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in our lives, it's woven, leading us in our decisions, in our actions, it's proven. Though we may face sufferings, though we may be driven, they're not worth comparing with the glory in us, You've given. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
Pericope:
Gospel
VII : The Passion and Resurrection
THE COMMISSIONING OF THE DISCIPLES
Matthew 28:16-20
First Reading
I: Historical Review and Exhortation
PROOFS OF GOD'S LOVE
Deuteronomy 4:32-40
Psalm
First Book of Psalms 1-41
PRAISE OF GOD'S POWER AND PROVIDENCE
Psalm 33:1-22
Second Reading
V: Justification and the Christian Life
CHILDREN OF GOD THROUGH ADOPTION
Romans 8:14-17
Reflection Source:
Conversation with Copilot
