Therefore, Go: The Power of His Presence
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
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.”
Grace Prayed For
The grace to be so profoundly convinced of His constant presence (“I am with you always”) that I can “go” with holy confidence, acting not on my own power, but in His.
Reflection
This moment on the mountain is the pivot point of our faith. It is the perfect fusion of intimacy, obedience, and mission.
First, consider the intimacy. The disciples go to the mountain “to which Jesus had ordered them.” Their obedience leads them to an encounter. And in this encounter, Jesus approaches them. He doesn’t shout the mission from a distance. He closes the gap. He comes to them, even in their mixed state of worship and doubt. He doesn’t demand perfect faith before He gives the mission; He offers His presence in their imperfection. This is the intimacy we are invited into.
From this place of intimate presence, He gives the mission. But notice, the mission is not based on their ability. It’s based on His. “All power… has been given to me. Go, therefore…” We do not go out armed with our own plans or eloquence. We go out armed with His authority and, as the final verse promises, His very Self.
This mission is our call to “share and receive.” We are to “make disciples,” which is an act of relationship. We “share” by “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit”—bringing them into the very Trinitarian intimacy we ourselves have received. And we “share” by “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This is the obedience piece. We are not teaching rules, but teaching a new way of life that is the fruit of being loved by God.
And how can we possibly do this? How can we handle the rejection, the failures, the overwhelming scale of it all? Jesus ends with the promise that makes it all possible: “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” The mission is not an assignment He gives us and then watches from heaven. The mission is the way we experience His abiding intimacy. In every encounter where we try to share His love, we find Him already there, with us, loving through us.
Daily Evangelization and Baptismal Mission
Fulfilling Your Mission
This is about sharing the tangible impact of Jesus’s love, the love He has for me and for you.
Teach by “Observing”: The command is to “teach them to observe.” The best teaching is your own obedience. When you choose patience, forgiveness, or generosity, you are “observing” His command. This becomes a living lesson for others. People see that the love Jesus has poured into your life is real—real enough to change how you live, how you speak, and how you love. That is the most compelling invitation of all.
Share Your Story of His Impact: The most powerful Gospel message is your own. It’s not a theory; it’s a testimony. It’s sharing how Jesus’s love has impacted your life. When you’re in an encounter, you can say, “I used to be so anxious about the future, but my intimacy with Jesus has given me a peace I can’t explain.” Or, “Jesus loved me even when I was full of doubt, like the disciples on the mountain, and that experience of mercy is what motivates me to be merciful to others.”
“Baptize” Your Encounters in Love: You fulfill your mission by “baptizing” every encounter in the name of the Trinity—with the love of the Father, the compassion of the Son, and the gentleness of the Spirit. This is how you “share.” When you “receive” someone by listening to them with your full attention, you are restoring a piece of God’s creation by affirming their dignity. You are loving them as Jesus has loved you.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “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.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post