Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “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 28:16-20
Loss and distance are always hard. When someone we love passes, when those who relied on for support and knowledge are gone, we can feel at seas without a sail or rudder. The memories and their teachings remain with us and often inspire us to be and do more. They are with us as we live to honor them by our works of compassion and care.
Jesus and his disciples have had encounters after his resurrection, all of them fraught with great joy and great confusion. Life did not return to the way it was. They were flailing about, trying to figure out how to continue the work of their teacher and savior. This bunch of confused, struggling people were given direction as they lose sight of him, to go out into the world. He empowers them, despite the reality that they felt or seemed undeserving. We are reminded that when we are most vulnerable, God still needs us to share love in the world, and that, we are never alone or abandoned.
Today, I ask God to help me use the gifts of wisdom and compassion learned from those who have gone before, to love and care for others. May we all trust that we too are empowered, even in our weakness, to go and share God's love as we care for our neighbors, wherever we might find ourselves.
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