In this week’s Gospel, Matthew 28:19, Jesus asks his apostles to make disciples of all nations baptizing and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded of you. I believe when Jesus says go out and baptize all nations he is asking them to widen their horizons and take them out of their comfort zone. Therefore, Jesus is defining the role of being a Disciple.

Immediately, the disciples know that they are going to be commissioned to the four corners of the Earth. Maybe, to places they haven’t been before or even to places they don’t want to go. The bottom line is they have undertaken the role of discipleship and are prepared to see it through no matter what challenges they face.

Sometimes, I must undergo tasks that I don’t really want to encounter. When I experience such difficulties, I can either refuse to see it through or try and tackle it to the best of my ability. Like the apostles there is always that fear of the unknown however, for me it is always my belief in my own knowledge and skills and faith that enables me to attempt the assignment. For the apostles they had Jesus’s last words in Matthew’s Gospel resonating in their ears, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” A statement that applies to all Christians throughout the world today when we offered the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel.

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you, abide in my love. If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:9-11.

For me the scripture gives me the knowledge the Lord loves me know matter what. There are no requirements that I have to meet to receive this love. All I have to do is develop a positive relationship with God through prayer, scripture and encountering people and creation with respect and dignity.

The criteria to ensure your love for God is interdependent is keeping the commandments. Therefore, to cultivate our faith, we must maintain our desire to act selflessly and not to be motivated by decisions that will only benefit ourselves but to create a ripple effect of assisting others.

Furthermore, this will fill us with joy and inspire us even more to bring happiness to others. We also will acknowledge how the world around us exhibits God’s great love through the people we meet and the wonder and awe of creation. Hence, I believe we have a view of the world that enriches our faith and makes our joy complete.