I am with you always, even to the end of the age

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

Yesterday we read that, after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.  And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.  And the guard shook for for fear of him, and became like dead men.  But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.   He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him.  Behold, I have told you."  So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.  And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!"  So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.  Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid.  Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."

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.  My study bible comments on the lie the soldiers are advised to tell ("Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.'") that it is absurd, because Christ's disciples were afraid and had gone into hiding.  Moreover, most of them went on to suffer terrible persecution and martyrdom.  It is unthinkable that the disciples would have endured and suffered such events, and lived their lives with such faith, over a known fallacy.

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."  Jesus declares that the authority that was His already in His divine nature, is now also possessed by His glorified human nature.  My study bible adds that this human nature has now trampled the final enemy, which is death (1 Corinthians 15:20-28). 

"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 . . .."  This is the Great Commission.  It is Christ's final commandment given on earth.  It is to be lived out in the Church until His Second Coming.  To make disciples is possible only through the power of God, and not in the strength of human beings.  My study bible says that the power of the Resurrection therefore is not just for Jesus Himself, but it is given to all believers for Christian life and mission. 

" . . . 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.  My study bible comments that Christ Himself is present in each believer and in the Church always, both personally and in the Holy Spirit -- for neither can be separated from the other.  To the end of the age does not at all imply that we will be separated from Christ at the end of the world:  He remains such us now, and forever, and unto the ages of ages.  Amen.

There we have the promise of Christ:  He is with us always, even to the end of the age.  What do we do with this gift?  Do we realize how precious our lives are in the light of Christ's words and teachings?  Not only has He entered into the world to live with us and as one of us, but He has ascended our human nature into heaven with Him.  Moreover, He is present with us always.  Once again, we must turn to the understanding that our faith is not about what happens "next," after this life, but right in the here and the now, where Christ is with us always.  We have this precious gift that is given to us, for Christ to always be with us, always to accompany us, the Holy Spirit to illuminate Christ for us -- and even our faith as gift of the Father (16:17).  At every moment of our lives, we are so blessed and so gifted with such a presence.  So what do we make of it?  What do we do with this gift?  It is like a crown we may wear on the top of our heads:  we have Christ's presence with us.  How will we use this gift in our lives?  Will we honor and serve it?  Will we make the best use of it, through prayer and communion as often as possible?  Do we turn to Christ to seek guidance for all things in our lives, or do w simply ignore Him, and leave Him out?  What is important in light of this promise, His presence with us?  Do we wake up in the morning and ask ourselves how we will call on Christ, and live with Christ this day, and find His way for us?  When Jesus goes to the Cross, as a human being He is so alone, but yet He tells the disciples:  "Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me" (John 16:32).  And now, in His risen appearance to the disciples, He makes them and us this same promise, that we are never alone, just as He was not alone.  He is always with us.  Let us remember that where Christ is, so is the Church and all her saints, and so is the Father and the Holy Spirit.  How great a cloud of witnesses, indeed!   As St. Paul says, given what we have with us, and that to such a great extent we are blessed, let us run our race with endurance and faith.  Let us cherish this gift of the author and finisher of our faith, and know how we are blessed, so that we find its fullness in our life every day.  The One who remains always with us is at the same time seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 10:1-3).