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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
― Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 28 verses 19-20
The earthly ministry of Jesus Christ begins with His Baptism in the Jordan River. It is in that moment that His identity, sonship, and belovedness is revealed, not just to the world, but fully to Christ Himself. In a similar way, our identity as sons and daughters of God are revealed in our own Baptism, and reexpressed through our Confirmation.
Our Lord left that place to go out into the desert to fast, and be tempted by our adversary and tormentor. However, as was promised all the way back in Genesis 3:15 the serpent would strike at His heel, and He would trample the enemies skull.
We bring up the beginning of Jesus ministry today, because just next week we will celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. However, I started this message with a passage from the Gospel of Matthew 28:19-20. This comes from the end of Christ’s earthly ministry. In this moment, our Lord passes on the work to us, as missionary disciples.
From a baptism, to a call to baptize. We go out to the nations, or more likely to our neighbors, and we are called to be Christ to them. We are called to bring them to Christ. This week, as we prepare for the feast of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, let’s all begin to consider how we can go out and Christen our society, bringing the joy we experienced at Christmas out into a broken and dysfunctional work.
Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that you empower us to live up to our call as missionary disciples to all those we encounter in our daily lives, the suffering, and the lonely, and the castout.
God Bless and Have a Week Empowered to Do God’s Work, by the Gift of the Eucharist.