Tags
Ash Wednesday, Christmas, Discipleship, Easter, Jesus, Lent, Matthew 28:18-20, Matthew 28:5-7, Mission, Sermon on the Mount, Teaching of Jesus, The Sundays after Epiphany
We stand between the wonder of Christmas Eve and the turn toward Jerusalem that begins on Ash Wednesday. On the far horizon, is the light of Easter morning; behind us is the light of the star. The song of the angels starts us on a journey that leads not only to Bethlehem, but to Jerusalem and the angelic word to Mary:
“Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” (Matthew 28:5-7)
Matthew tells a dramatic account of the angel coming to roll away the tomb, but relates no resurrection appearances except the one on the mountain in Galilee where Jesus says:
“All authority 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, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
There is a lot to learn between the peasant home in Bethlehem and our commissioning on the mountain in Galilee. We will not get it all in these few short weeks before we begin our Lenten journey, but we will get an important taste. After the calling of his disciples, Matthew gets right to work with the Sermon on the Mount. Where Mark is in a hurry to tell us the story, driving quickly towards the cross and resurrection, Matthew wants us to learn the path of discipleship.
There are riches in the Sermon on the Mount, but also challenges. It’s not enough to hear the word, we must be doers of the word. We cannot build our houses on sand; we must build on rock. The outward form of the commandments is not enough; we must gain its spirit. The kingdom not only renounces murder, but also anger. The way of God not only refuses to swear falsely, it speaks truly.
Love of neighbor is love of all. Piety doesn’t look for street corners and public acclaim, it seeks only the face of God. The citizens of heaven’s reign don’t accumulate treasures that rust, but deeds of mercy that endure. There is only one master, one Lord we serve.
All this is but the beginning of our instruction. There are words about judging, and prayer, and the wide and narrow gates. There are healings to be seen that bear witness to our calling in the world. There are “sinners” with whom Jesus will dine, and outsiders he will welcome. There are children and the powerless to be embraced. There are lessons to be learned about our mission and our life together. There are sins that need forgiving seventy-seven times. There is fear that must be conquered and a cross to be borne. There is bread to be tasted and bread to be shared.
Our journey does not end with a silent, holy night in Bethlehem; it begins there. And it does not end on Easter morn; there is work to be done – a journey to be taken, a way of life to be learned, a spirit to be imbibed, a mission to be fulfilled, a joy to be lived.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
+ + +
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chapel_of_the_Resurrection_-_Banner_and_Stained_Glass.jpg Runner1928 [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D