In today’s Gospel we hear the story of the women’s encounter with the resurrected Jesus. Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary” came to the tomb early in the morning and found it empty. As the ran from the tomb the resurrected Jesus appeared to them first with words of reassurance and then with words of commission:
Comfort: “Do not be afraid.”
Commission: “Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
The women fulfilled Jesus’ commission. “The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.” (28:18). Jesus gave the great commission to these disciples:
“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.” (28:18-20).
We also hear words of comfort and commission addressed to these disciples:
Comfort: “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Commission: “Go, make disciples of all nations.”
Jesus commissions us to make new disciples through baptism in the Trinity. Disciples are students of Jesus and so a part of his commission is not only baptizing but also “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Jesus teaches occur throughout Matthew’s Gospel but particularly in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:28) as we hear in the beginning of this Sermon: “When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying… (Matthew 5:1-2).
Like the women in today’s Gospel let us take time to encounter Jesus each day. As his disciples we are eager to learn more about him and his teaching but most of all to put them in practice. Most of all let Jesus comfort and strengthen us with his promise to always be with us and let us listen to his healing words: “Do not be afraid.”
Image: “IMG_4636A Véronèse. (Paolo Caliari). 1528-1588. Noli me tangere. vers 1580. Grenoble. Musée des Beaux Arts.” by jean louis mazieres is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.