With You Always

“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

In today’s Gospel we were the “Great Commission,” where Jesus sends forth His disciples to go out into the whole world, baptizing them and teaching them everything He had taught them and all that the Spirit will instruct them. These are the final instructions of Jesus — to go, make, baptize, and teach. As Christians our lives must ultimately be led to action. Our prayer and relationship with the Lord must always lead us to action — to go, preach, teach, and love.

Jesus promised the disciples then and us now that He will be with us always even until the end of time. Some may say “But didn’t He ascend into Heaven?” Yes, He did, but He didn’t leave. He also sent the Holy Spirit. And just as the Father and the Son are one, so is the Spirit one with the Father and the Son. As Catholic Christians we believe in the Trinity — three divine Persons in one God. The Trinity is a community of love. (Check out the weekly reflection for more about the Trinity)

We are baptized into this Love. Because of Jesus we have a share in this divine life, the love of God. Jesus promises the He will be with us always and that when we go and do all those things in His name, He will be sure to be with us, so that all that we do may bring about the greater glory of God, and the greater glory of God is when man is fully alive. And we are most fully alive when we live in love. And when we live in love, we will know that God — Jesus, indeed is with us always.