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I am with you always

(Mt 28:20)

    Among the many ill effects on our community of the political, economic and social upheaval in Indonesia, what saddens me most is the physical separation of families. For a variety of reasons, either due to the sharp reduction in the husband’s salary and benefits, the perceived danger to their wives and children, the uncertainty of the husband’s job tenure, or a combination of these, many families in our community are becoming physically separated from each other. Wives and children have been sent home and the children enrolled in school.  The plan is for the wife to just occasionally visit the husband in Jakarta, but the family remains back home.

            My brothers and sisters, as you are all aware, during the past few months, I have been reflecting on the adverse impacts of the regional economic crisis and the recent turmoil in Jakarta on our community. I have been searching for God’s message to us in the light of all the recent developments in the region and in Indonesia. I have been praying to know the Father’s will for me, my family and our community. And I have asked for the grace to follow His will. My prayers have been answered. The Holy Spirit has led me to the gospel of Matthew.

The gospel of Matthew is the good news for uncertain and troubled times. When Matthew wrote his gospel around AD 85, his Christian community in Antioch in Syria was also faced with difficult problems and a very uncertain future. Let me recall briefly why.

We know that Christianity began as a movement within Judaism. The first converts were Jews who came to believe that Jesus of Nazareth was their long-awaited Messiah. The early followers of Jesus, called the followers of the Way, continued to consider themselves still united to their fellow Jews. They continue to worship at the temple, go to the synagogues and observe the Jewish law. However, after Stephen was stoned to death, the Jews began to persecute the Christians in Jerusalem. To avoid this persecution, many Christian-Jews fled Jerusalem. But the leaders of the community remained. As a result, James, the head of the Jerusalem community, was martyred in AD 60.

Many of the Christian-Jews who fled Jerusalem settled in Antioch and established the first Christian community there. In fact, it was in Antioch that the followers of the Way were first called Christians. Antioch was also the first Christian community to welcome Gentile converts in large numbers. This was Matthew’s community.

            In AD 66 the Jews in Palestine revolted against Rome. During the revolt, Emperor Nero blamed the Christians for the fire in Rome and put many Christians to death. The revolt ended with Roman armies burning Jerusalem and the Jewish temple in AD 70.

            During the revolt, the Pharisees received permission from Rome to establish a Jewish center at Jamnia, a city west of Jerusalem. It was in Jamnia that the Pharisees introduced an orderly codification of Jewish traditions. They also unified Judaism by strictly regulating the rules, rites and customs of Jewish synagogues. The Pharisees also began to confront the Christian movement and by instituting liturgical and non-liturgical practices, they effectively banned the Christian-Jews from the synagogues.

            This was the situation in the Christian community of Matthew. They had just gone through the trauma of being expelled from the Jewish synagogues. They were living under the threat of Roman persecution and there was growing confusion as more and more Gentile converts joined the predominantly Jewish community. The combination of these pressures caused internal scandal and dissension in the community. False prophets and false messiahs appeared claiming that they had been anointed by God to lead the community. There was confusion, disorientation and conflict. The community was faced with difficult, highly troubled and uncertain times.

            Like Matthew’s community, our community also faces uncertain times. We have just witnessed unprecedented developments in Indonesia that resulted in significant political changes. And more political changes are expected to come! These changes will come in the midst of severe economic and social problems. Thus, the future remains uncertain. Indeed the country has become a political and social volcano which has already erupted and which may erupt again at any time.

            As a consequence of the political turmoil and economic crisis, our activities in the community have been severely disrupted. Many members have left the country and many more will be leaving soon. This month alone two top leaders, a Unit Leader and a Family Ministries Coordinator, will be returning to the Philippines. Some members are migrating to New Zealand and Australia. Others have returned to Malaysia and the United States. With many families becoming physically separated, some have started to wonder how we can still be effective witnesses to what we preach – that husbands and wives are to serve the Lord together as a pastoral team? How can we be “couples” for Christ when we serve alone? How can we lead by example?

            My brothers and sisters, the key to the gospel of Matthew is found in Mt 28:16-20. The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:16-20) These verses provide a summary and climax of the themes that have been developed in the gospel. With these words, Matthew ends his story about Jesus. With these words, Matthew reveals God’s message to his community.

            My brothers and sisters, this is also God’s message to our community. In this final pericope of the gospel of Matthew, we hear the Risen Lord give a declaration, a command, and a promise.

Firstly, Jesus declares that he is the all-powerful Lord of heaven and earth: All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Jesus showed this in all the miracles and healing described earlier in the gospel. With his death he conquered sin. With his glorious Resurrection, he conquered death. Jesus thus revealed that he is indeed Lord of heaven and earth.

Secondly, Jesus gives a command: Go and make disciples of all nations. In the midst of problems, difficulties and uncertainties, the Lord gives us a clear and urgent directive: Go and proclaim the good news. Leave your problems behind you. Since I am all-powerful, I will take care of them. Erase your doubts and fears. Forget your difficulties. Ignore all the uncertainties. But go instead and make disciples of all nations.

            Thirdly and finally, Jesus makes a promise: I will be with you always. Do not be afraid! Do not be troubled with the uncertain future. Do not worry about the perceived dangers. I who am all-powerful and Lord of heaven and earth, I will be with you always.

            My brothers and sisters, there can be no better assurance than this! And there can be no better person to give the assurance. His faithfulness to his promises has been tested – he is faithful unto death, even death on the cross. We cannot possibly have any doubt. I urge you then, let us from here on look forward. Let us now stop looking back and, with an even greater sense of urgency, obey the Lord’s command. Let us proclaim the good news and make disciples of all nations – confident that the Lord is protecting us, confident that God is with us always till the end of time. And let us do it together as a pastoral team! 

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