¹⁶ The eleven disciples came into Galilee to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
¹⁷ And on seeing him they paid him homage, but some hesitated.
¹⁸ And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: "All power in heaven and on earth has given to me.
¹⁹ Go, make disciples of all the Gentiles, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days until the end of the age."

• The appearance of the risen Jesus on the mountain in Galilee concludes Matthew's Gospel. The passage summarizes three essential topics:
  1. Jesus' supreme and universal power and authority.
  2. His church is open to all Jews and Gentiles alike and is ruled by His commandments.
  3. The fulfillment of the title "Emmanuel".
• (v.16) Jesus started his mission in Galilee (see 4:12-17) and from this very place he sent his people to be disciples of all nations.
• (v.17) 'Paying Jesus homage but also doubting' is the typical itinerary of the faith of disciples of all times. Before being enlightened the disciples must journey through the darkness of doubt, hesitation, and frustration.
• (v.18) When claiming "all power in heaven and on earth has been given to me," the risen Jesus accepts what is said about the "Son of Man" in Dan 7:14, and reaffirms his kingship (Mt 27:11).
• (v.19) Under Moses' law, only Jewish males could be properly introduced to be the member of God's chosen people through circumcision. [Females were members of the community, but they were dedicated with no outward sign.] Under Jesus' teaching all mankind is invited to enter his kingdom through a new initiation rite: baptism in the name of the Father-Son-Holy Spirit, and to keep his law, the law of love.
• (v.20) The promise assumes a "time of the church" between the inauguration of God's kingdom through Jesus and its fullness at the end of the world.

In baptism, the new people of God is born again into the mysterious life provided by the trinity of the Creator, the Savior and the Sanctifier. The condition to remain in this new life is to teach and to observe Jesus' commandment, the commandment of love.

1. This is the way God loves: the Father loved us so much as to give us his Only Begotten Son; through love, the Son gave up his life for our sake; and the Holy Spirit brings into us the same love with which God loves us. As the risen Jesus' disciples how do you exercise this love, especially to the least of His people, in your daily life?
2. Certainly we do not have any doubt about the risen Jesus; but is there any hesitation, frustration while you are teaching and observing Jesus' commandments?
3. Gone is the race and gender superiority among the children of God. Do you, while sharing Jesus' discipleship, exclude others (individuals, family, group, community ...) from your spiritual territory? Do you recall a time when you felt so proud of yourself that someone else was made to suffer because of his or her class?
4. How strong is our inner enthusiasm to reach out to present Jesus to someone, to lead someone to baptism?

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A synthesis by the Vietnamese Christian Life (Dong Hanh) Community