Matthew 28:16-20
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
" Make disciples of all nations."
This Sunday the Gospel invites us to (1) reflect on the mystery of the Holy Trinity, (2) to meditate on the empowerment and mission the Church received from the Lord and (3) to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to witness for God's presence, love and plan of redemption and salvation for everybody and for all nations through Christ.
The disciples have experienced God's Oneness in three persons.
They have heard Jesus speak many times about the Father.
"I and the father are One" John 10:30.
"I am going to the Father to prepare a place for you" John 14:3.
"I am going to my Father and your Father" John 20:17.
They have proclaimed Him as "the Son of the living God" Matthew 16:16.
"My Lord and my God" John 20:28.
They have received the Holy Spirit.
"When the day of Pentecost came....They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them" Acts 2:1-3.
They are empowered by the Holy Spirit to forgive sins, teach and baptize all nations, "He breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" John 20:22.
Celebrating the Holy Trinity means that we worship One God in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity. It also reminds us of the mystery of love, taking initiatives of love, reconciliation and healing, and that we are sent as witnesses.
Through Baptism we become the temples of the Holy Spirit, but also ambassadors for Christ sent wherever we are called to be. "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were pleading through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God" 2 Corinthians 5:20.
This Sunday, we are empowered, commissioned by His authority and ensured that He remains with us as the Holy Spirit lives within us. We have the duty to proclaim and teach His Gospel - not our interpretations, but to baptize/purify/cleanse our thoughts and acts before we baptize others.
Let us consider this Gospel as a personal invitation to think, reflect and pray to the Lord to be His ambassadors in our world today according to His will!