I am with you always

Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

- Matthew 28:11-20

In yesterday's reading, we read about the women at the tomb, before whom appeared an Angel announcing Jesus' Resurrection, and then Jesus himself, greeting them with "Rejoice!" (See His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.) Today's reading includes the final verses of the Gospel of Matthew.

Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. We recall that in yesterday's reading the guards fled the tomb when the Angel appeared before them and the women (Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary"). The purpose of my blog is really not to dispute the facts of the case - did this thing happen or did it not? Whatever "side" one comes down upon, I feel that approach lacks the sophistication necessary to read Holy Scripture. I do not read the bible as a history textbook, but as inspired Scripture that teaches us something that includes our world and also leads us into the spiritual reality that is a part of life as well - it includes all. This is its purpose. One thing that I find consistent in the Gospels is that they teach us about our own nature, about human nature. In that sense, it is a reflection of our own reality, to teach us something about ourselves and how to look at ourselves as actors who make choices in the world. And this story is no exception. Jesus has told us earlier in Matthew's Gospel that "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." This story is precisely an illustration of something I have seen in the world too often, this choice between God and mammon. The guards are offered a bribe, and security with their boss, the governor - and this is what they choose. The corruption of the world goes on - an exposure to the brilliant light of the spiritual life does nothing to change this choice, nor their characters. In some sense it is a perfect metaphor for the spiritual life that is not about the highs and lows of exalted revelation or spiritual phenomena, but the day to day "good fight of faith" through which we choose - or not - to struggle. This is the choice offered to each of us. These guards don't understand that kind of fight or struggle.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Finally, there is the reunion in Galilee among the disciples with Jesus. The scattered sheep are returned to the flock and their Master. I am fascinated by verse 17, and its inclusion of the information that when they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted. In the immediacy of the Resurrection, we have the corruption of the leadership and the guards. There is the faith of the women, the two Marys who have ministered to the Apostles since Galilee, and are chosen to receive the word from the Risen Christ, "Rejoice!" And finally, the disciples, we are told, who do not experience perfect faith at all, but rather "some doubted." Aren't these all the choices we still have in the world? For me, it is a clear picture of our own natures, and the choices regarding faith that we are still faced with in our lives.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." My study bible notes on this verse: "This is the terminology of exaltation and glorification. It manifests the power of His Resurrection, and the authority to bring human beings back to life." Jesus is now the Risen Christ, in full majesty and authority.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, . . . My study bible notes, "If we observe this context for the Lord's command to make disciples of all the nations and to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Spirit, we see that making disciples cannot be done in the strength of man, but only in the power of God. The reality of the Resurrection refers not only to its historicity, apostolic witness, and necessity for faith, but also to its power in our Christian life and mission. The resurrected Son of God, living in us and energizing us, makes possible the salvation of all." The key phrase here in my study bible's notes for me is this (referring to the power of God): its power in our Christian life and mission. This is the great spiritual gift of the Gospels. Who are we with God? It's not just about all the rest of it as this note points out: its historicity, apostolic witness, and necessity for faith. It's all about that power (and note these words of Jesus include the Holy Spirit) at work in our lives, God with us. This returns us to the beginning of Matthew's Gospel, and its summing up, in verse 1:23 (and the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14): "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." Also, in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus has taught his disciples: With God all things are possible. And this is what we remember, and that with which we remain.

. . . teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. On this verse, my study bible notes: "By saying He is with you always, Jesus means His Resurrection is neither of the past, nor of the future. It is always present in our lives through the Holy Spirit. We know Him directly, here and now, in the present, as our Savior and our Friend. To the end of the age does not by any means imply that we are to be separated from Him after that great consummation. He is with us now, and ever, and until the ages of ages. Amen." God is with us, and makes all things possible. God is an ever-present reality, eternally with us. Do we live this reality? Do we accept this grace in our lives? Can we accept this strength, live with it, work with it, be guided by it? To my mind, the reality of the spiritual dimension of life is something we must accept to understand and grasp our faith. It is not just a set of principles or rules to follow - that is a return to Law without the relationship and relatedness that Jesus asks us for in order to understand righteousness. Just as his sympathy and understanding of the woman who anointed him (against the "rules") teaches us about mercy and relatedness, so we are to understand the grace of this Love with which we are connected, that is the eternal reality present to us. Rely on it for strength, for mercy (its healing power) for whatever ails us. God is with us, ever-present; this is our message we take with us at the end of the Gospel of Matthew. Amen.

"I am with you always"