In today’s Gospel Jesus commissions and sends out the Twelve to be his witnesses. The word “apostle” comes from the Greek verb “to send” (apostellõ). Jesus tells the Apostles: “Behold, I am sending (apostellõ) you like sheep in the midst of wolves.” Who are these apostles? Matthew has already told us in the beginning of this commissioning chapter:
“Then he summoned his twelve disciples (mathētēs) and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the twelve apostles (apostolos) are these Simon…” (Matthew 10:1-2)
In today’s Gospel Jesus warns his apostles of the coming persecutions and how they should react: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” Even during persecution, they are to follow Jesus’ way of humility and sacrifice. Jesus promises them that he will be with them and the Spirit will guide them:
“When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you”.
This commissioning is the first commission of the Twelve. Their mission at this point is restricted to Israel.
“Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10:5-6).
At the end of the Gospel is the Great commissioning; the mission now is unrestricted, a call to witness to all people, no one is excluded:
“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…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:16-19)
Matthew’s Gospel ends with Jesus’ promise to be with us always just as in today’s Gospel he promises that the Spirit will be with us:
“For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:20)
“And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20).
Through are baptism we are called to be apostles and to continue the mission of Jesus and the Twelve apostles. Jesus is sending us to all people and all nations to witness to Jesus’ way of humility, service, and sacrifice. Jesus warns and exhorts us: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” Most importantly Jesus promises to be with us: “And behold, I am with your always, until the end of the age.”
Image: “The Apostles in the Cenacle” by Lawrence OP is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.