Beginnings and endings

The Lectionary of the Roman Catholic Church and the texts proclaimed in many Christian communities for the feast of the Ascension, according to the Text this Week are almost identical. (In Year C, the Catholic Lectionary also chooses the end of the Gospel of Luke) This year, the Catholic Lectionary presents the end of the Gospel of Matthew which is known as the Great Commission. Friar Jude Winkler explains the rabbinic technique used by Matthew to repeatedly make the point that the mission of the Church is to go out to all nations and make disciples of all people, The people will be claimed for Christ in Baptism. The faithful will teach them all that we have learned from Jesus through the Holy Spirit, who Paul prays in his letter to the Ephesians will give us wisdom and revelation and enlighten the eyes of our heart. Rev. Richard Gabuzda encourages us to use the gift of the enlightenment of the eyes of our heart to embrace the hope which Paul declares is ours of sharing in the glory of Life in Jesus today. Richard Beaton comments on the “alls” in the Great Commission that ends the Gospel of Matthew. All authority, All nations, All that He commanded and All ways (Always) with us are the points he makes. Friar Jude notes that Luke begins his second volume addressed to the God lover (Theophilus) with the image of fulfillment of mission in the Hebrew Scriptures as Jesus is taken into heaven and Matthew gives the Mandate to the Church to live in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, to draw disciples into communion with Jesus from every time and place.