Gospel Reflection May 26 – Kim VanHuffel
Sunday, May 26
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Matthew 28: 16-20
Gospel:
The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they all 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.”
Gospel Reflection:
The scene here is set. This is Jesus’ first appearance to his 11 apostles (12 minus Judas) after his resurrection. In all four gospels Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene (and she believes). In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells her to send his disciples to Galilee, where they will see him for the first time. When this happens, they worship him, but they doubt. They also doubt in all of the other gospel accounts, upon first encountering the risen Jesus, or news of his resurrection.
Isn’t that just like us? It gives me great solace that these first followers of Jesus worshiped, but also doubted. In my own faith I believe strongly in our triune God, but every once in awhile, doubt creeps in. It is the nature of a mystery. At those times, I remember the father of the boy possessed by an unclean spirit in the Gospel of Mark. When he asks Jesus to heal his son, he says: “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
Because we need strong faith to do what Jesus asks us to do in this gospel passage, he asks the disciples (which we are) to make more disciples from all nations. We are supposed to GO and TEACH others about God and everything Jesus taught us. We are called to bring people to baptism, and to belief in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It’s not always easy to share our faith with others though. We sometimes feel it is not our business to touch people’s hearts — that is God’s job.
But God commissions us to do these things, and he promises that he will be with us always. So we are not alone. We need to follow God’s will and let his love shine through us so we will be a sign of his grace — a sacrament, if you will, to the world. We can be a visible sign to others of God’s invisible grace. May God grant each of us the strength and desire to share his love with all we meet.
Kim VanHuffel
Pastoral Associate