Fifteenth ordinary Sunday in the year B

Jesus sent the twelve on a mission

 The Great Commission, or Universal Mission, is an instruction given by Jesus of Nazareth to eleven of his Twelve Apostles after his resurrection. In this episode, recounted in the last five verses of the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus appears to his disciples on a mountain in Galilee and asks them to baptise « in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit » all the nations of the world. This passage follows the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Élian Cuvillier notes that it does not contain any appeal to God’s judgement: sending out on mission and bringing new disciples together seem to take precedence here over notions of sin or punishment.4 Sending out on mission is placed under the auspices of the Church. Sending out on mission is placed under the sign of the Trinity, echoing the baptism of Christ, where the Spirit descends upon Jesus at the moment when the divine voice establishes the filial relationship with the Father (Mt 3:16-17). At the same time, « I am with you always, to the close of the age » is a continuation of « Emmanuel », the « God with us » of Mt 1:23. Matthew’s gospel is characterised by a permanent duality between Jewish particularism and universalism, and here it concludes with an extension of the Good News to all the peoples of the earth.

The « Great Commission » should also be seen in the perspective of the Sermon on the Mount, of which it is the culmination. The proclamation of this mission contains the very substance of the Gospel: the Risen One has power over the world and his disciples must transmit his teaching to all peoples until the coming of the Kingdom. This time of the end has not been described as imminent by the author. The « Great Commission » is to be distinguished from the « Small Commission », or « Sending Discourse », which appears earlier in the same Gospel according to Matthew, in chapter 10.

On the other hand, it evokes other pericopes of the canonical Gospels, including the institution of the twelve apostles, present in the three synoptics. However, the institution of the apostles takes place during Jesus’ life, before the crucifixion, whereas the « Great Commission » takes place after the resurrection. Luke’s Gospel, written at the same time as Matthew’s, around the year 80, contains a scene close to the « Great Commission » described by Matthew, which also takes place after the crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus asked his disciples to preach to all nations, starting from Jerusalem, the repentance that leads to the forgiveness of sins. The theme reappears in the Acts of the Apostles, also written by Luke: at the moment of the Ascension, Jesus promises his apostles that the Holy Spirit will assist them in carrying out their mission. The Gospel according to Mark, which precedes the other two synoptics and dates from the years 65-75,13 includes a passage comparable to Matthew’s « Great Commission » in its « long ending ».

The sending out on mission is placed under the sign of the Trinity, which echoes the baptism of Christ, where the Spirit descends upon Jesus at the moment when the divine voice establishes the filial relationship with the Father (Mt 3:16-17). At the same time, « I am with you always, to the close of the age » is a continuation of « Emmanuel », the « God with us » of Mt 1:23. Matthew’s gospel is characterised by a permanent duality between Jewish particularism and universalism, and here it concludes with an extension of the Good News to all the peoples of the earth. The « Great Commission » should also be seen in the perspective of the Sermon on the Mount, of which it is the culmination. The proclamation of this mission contains the very substance of the Gospel: the Risen One has power over the world and his disciples must transmit his teaching to all peoples until the coming of the Kingdom. This time of the end has not been described as imminent by the author.

he « Great Commission » is to be distinguished from the « Small Commission », or « Sermon of the Sending », which appears earlier in the same Gospel according to Matthew, in chapter 10. On the other hand, it evokes other pericopes of the canonical Gospels, including the institution of the twelve apostles, present in the three synoptics. However, the institution of the apostles takes place during Jesus’ life, before the crucifixion, whereas the « Great Commission » takes place after the resurrection. Luke’s Gospel, written at the same time as Matthew’s, around the year 80, contains a scene close to the « Great Commission » described by Matthew, which also takes place after the crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus asked his disciples to preach to all nations, starting from Jerusalem, the repentance that leads to the forgiveness of sins. The theme reappears in the Acts of the Apostles, also written by Luke: at the moment of the Ascension, Jesus promises his apostles that the Holy Spirit will assist them in carrying out their mission. The Gospel according to Mark, which precedes the other two synoptics and dates from 65-75, includes a passage comparable to Matthew’s « Great Commission » in its « long ending ».

Jesus sends his disciples on mission two by two

One of the first acts of Jesus at the beginning of his public life was to choose twelve co-workers. The first chapters of Mark’s Gospel show them accompanying Jesus. And in today’s Gospel page, Jesus calls them for the first time and sends them out on mission two by two (Mk 6:7). For the first time, they are alone, without Jesus, in charge of preaching; it is already the time of the Church that begins.

Jesus sent them on mission two by two: this way of doing things facilitates mutual help and support, especially in difficult times. But this is not the most important thing. The most important thing is that the message is conveyed with one voice. It is the whole community that is called to bear witness in solidarity to the Gospel revealed by Jesus Christ. The first rule of the apostolate is to be a team. Fraternal life is already a preaching of love, even before talking about it. As Christians, as members of the living Christ, we have a duty to evangelise.

What is the point of believing in the true God if I never talk about it? God sends us to bring the good news of the Gospel to those around us. He sends us to proclaim the Word, which requires a change of life, a conversion. He asks us to fight evil and to act on behalf of the poor.

Conversion is the first content of the disciples’ preaching: change your life… Convert! This is such a radical option that it arouses fierce opposition. On average, people do not like to change their lives. Leave us alone! God is disturbing! He is asking us to commit to a new life. It is about changing course. Faith is a new way of life that contrasts with that of others.

We have to live it in our family and in our neighbourhood, at work or on holiday. We do not need to look for great ways. What Jesus expects from us is only our testimony. We are able to overcome evil where we are and live as liberated men. This is what will enable us to be witnesses of Christ before others.

Like the prophet Amos (first reading) and like the Twelve (Gospel), we are invited to give the best of ourselves to this testimony that the Lord entrusts to us. By participating in the Mass and through the Eucharist, we draw from the source.

The one who first opened the way to evangelisation, to mission, is the Virgin Mary. Let us pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, to help us become, through our whole lives, authentic bearers of Light, Love and Truth, to those around us.

Deacon Michel Houyoux

Links to other Christian websites

◊ Catholic daily readings : click here to read the paper →    Sunday, July 11 2021 – Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

◊ Young catholics  : click here to read the paper →    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B (2021)

♥  Father Jayme’s homily for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Tim