The great Commission

"Then Jesus approached and said to them, 'All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and 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 28:18-20)

This final commission of Jesus to His disciples, spoken after the Resurrection and before the Ascension, constitutes the Great Commission and the enduring mandate of the Church throughout all time. It is both a declaration of divine authority and a transmission of divine mission. Jesus begins by affirming that "all power in heaven and on earth has been given to me," a clear proclamation of His divine kingship and universal dominion. Having conquered sin and death through His Paschal Mystery, Christ now sends His followers to extend His reign to all nations, not as conquerors, but as evangelizers, inviting all into the communion of the Trinity.

Theologically, this passage defines the very identity and mission of the Church. The command to "make disciples of all nations" transcends cultural, ethnic, and territorial boundaries, reflecting the universal scope of salvation. It is an ecclesial mission rooted in sacramental life, as baptism in the Trinitarian name is the rite of initiation into communion with God and His people. Baptism, theologically understood, not only forgives sins but configures the soul to Christ, incorporates it into the Body of Christ, and bestows sanctifying grace. The Trinitarian formula emphasizes that the Christian life is a participation in the inner life of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Further, Jesus commands the apostles to teach "all that I have commanded you," linking discipleship to a spiritual experience and adherence to Christ's moral and doctrinal teachings. This underlines the inseparability of faith and obedience. Evangelization is not completed with conversion or baptism alone; it requires ongoing formation, catechesis, and adherence to the fullness of the Gospel. The Church, therefore, must remain faithful to apostolic teaching, preserving and transmitting the Deposit of Faith in its integrity, while applying it pastorally to the needs of each age.

Christ's concluding promise, "I am with you always, until the end of the age," provides the foundation for the Church's confidence and perseverance. This is not a metaphorical presence but a real, enduring presence, fulfilled especially in the sacraments, most fully in the Eucharist, and through the abiding guidance of the Holy Spirit. The promise assures the Church of Christ's fidelity amid persecution, confusion, and the passage of time. It affirms that the mission given is never undertaken alone, but always in the strength and presence of the Risen Lord, who remains the true agent of evangelization.

Matthew 28:18-20 reveals the Church's mission as universal, sacramental, doctrinal, and deeply relational. It challenges every baptized believer to participate in this mission—to proclaim, to baptize, to teach, and to witness to Christ by a life of holiness and fidelity. In fulfilling this Great Commission, the Church becomes the visible instrument of God's saving will, making disciples of all nations and drawing humanity into the eternal communion of divine life. Through her faithful witness, the enduring presence of Christ continues to sanctify the world until He comes again in glory.

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