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in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Through
the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and
save us. Amen. Glory to You, our God, Glory to You.
O Heavenly King,
the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, You are everywhere and fill all things, Treasury
of blessings, and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every
impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal,
have mercy on us (three times).
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it is now, was in the beginning, and ever
shall be, world without end. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for
Your Name’s sake. Lord have mercy (three times).
August
31, 2014 Sunday Sermon, Interpretation
The
Orthros (Matins) Gospel
Matthew 28:16-20 King James Version,
Edited and Paraphrased
Then the eleven disciples
returned to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. When they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some
doubted. Jesus came and spoke to them, saying,
“All
authority[1]
is given to me in heaven and in earth. Going[2]
therefore, disciple[3] all
nations[4],
baptizing[5] them in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost, teaching5 them to heed all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. Amen.”
The
Homily
Scripture suffers in translation
into English, or into any other language for that matter. Sometimes Scripture suffers at the hands of
the translator. In this text from
Matthew 28, we wish to direct our attention to the little word “Go.” This most common rendering of the Greek word
has caused as much heartbreak and wasted effort as any other word that comes to
mind.
This word looks like an imperative,
and so “Go” we must, and “Go” we shall, regardless of the cost or of our lack
of gifts and abilities necessary for success.
So we “Go” and we crash, never considering that there may be a very good
Scripture reason for our failure: perhaps we were never to “Go” in the first
place.
When we investigate we discover that
“Go” is not even an imperative at all.
We discover that “Go” is not even a verb; rather it is a hybrid of a
verb, a combination adjective-verb or verbal-adjective; it is a participle:
just like the other two participles in this same sentence.
If baptizing must be baptizing, and
teaching must be teaching, then “Go” must be going. This means that “Go” is not an imperative, it
is not even the main verb. The main verb
is “disciple”; or, if you prefer, “make disciples”, and it is an imperative.
Whenever we find a participle before
the main verb, it is usually setting the stage for the main verb; in other
words, it is a participle of attendant circumstances. This particular word could mean either coming
or going, it has no specific sense of direction. While you are coming and going about your
daily tasks, make disciples. While you
are at work make disciples. While you
are shopping make disciples. While you
are relaxing with your family make disciples.
While you are in church make disciples.
Wherever you may happen to be, make disciples.
Participles after the main verb,
usually give us more detailed instructions on how the task is to be
accomplished: by baptizing and teaching.
Nowadays it is very popular to talk about the invisible spiritual union
of all believers; to say things like, I can have a better devotion on the golf
course or camping in the woods. However,
these eleven men have just taken Jesus three-year or longer crash course in disciple
making. It stated with the command,
“Follow Me.” It involved a lot of work
among crowds, the sick, the unbelieving, and even deadly enemies; all of which
was highly visible, even notorious; and as Peter would discover, very difficult
to hide (wake up and smell the rooster crowing). Now Jesus commands the eleven to reproduce
after their own kind.[6] Disciples are as much made as they are born,
by baptizing and teaching, which are all highly conspicuous public activities. There ain’t no such thing as an invisible
church. Churches stick out like healthy
thumbs in the middle of dying society that doesn’t even realize it is fatally
wounded. Churches stick out like whole
people in an Ebola colony. It’s simply
impossible to hide the light of a good candle, or the taste of good salt.
“Go” takes the emphasis away from
“disciple” and selfishly corners this emphasis for itself. For this reason we are spinning our wheels
trying to “Go” when we should be putting our effort into making disciples. This, however, is very hard for us: because
it means that we have to face our spouses, parents, children, and
neighbor. I find this task to be very
difficult, and I’m ashamed to confess, I’m not very good at it.
Well, doesn’t anybody need to
go? Yes, Acts 1:8 makes it very clear
that they will go: but they will go in God’s timing, power and plan.
“But you shall receive
power, after the Holy Ghost comes upon you: and you shall be My witnesses in
Jerusalem, in all Judaea, in Samaria, and to every last part of the earth.”
That being said, when we look at who
and how they went we find that only a few actually went much of anywhere: Paul
with his traveling companions, Peter, Philip (Acts 8:5-13; 26-40), and a
handful of others. It looks as if most
of the eleven died in Jerusalem. When
they finally left Jerusalem it was because, as Stephen discovered, persecution
arose (Acts 11:19). This is exactly as
Jesus promised it would be (Matthew 10:11-14, 23). The Gospel spread because of persecution,
martyrdom, and the power of the Holy Ghost.
Yes, Paul went, but the Holy Ghost went before him, leading the way.
When you figure out how to go to
your neighbor, perhaps you will remember me, and help me be a better man. In the meanwhile, remember that your best
work is in the hood; unless you are being persecuted there: then, maybe it’s
time to knock the dust off your feet and move on.[7]
[1]
Jesus brings authority to the table: this is all the authority we need to swing
into action. The Holy Ghost brings power
to the table: not for speaking in tongues, not for accruing wealth, only for
making disciples.
[2]
This word is a participle; yet, it is nearly always translated “Go”, which is
both misleading and destructive. The
imperative “Go” simply does not exist.
We need to look to Acts to discover what “going” entails. In Acts we discover that the vast majority of
Christians don’t go anywhere: they live quite ordinary lives. The Gospel advances on the lives of ordinary
folks like the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40); like Dorcas, who sewed little
coats (Acts 9:36-42); and like Cornelius, the pagan centurion who believed
(Acts 10:1-48). If all we see in Acts is
the flamboyant life of Peter or Paul, we will miss the whole message of Acts. Few are called to follow Jesus in an apostolic
lifestyle. Most are called to follow
Jesus in an ordinary lifestyle: a lifestyle of self-sacrifice and service to
one’s fellow man. Scarcely more than a
dozen or two went on missionary journeys.
Millions from every other walk of life served within a few steps of
their own front door. Millions never
wandered more than a handful of miles from home. All abandoned everything to follow Jesus.
[3]
Here is the main verb. Here is the
Gospel imperative. Here is what must be
done. How many churches and individuals
have lost sight of the goal: make disciples?
How many envy great evangelists and missionaries: yet fail to make
disciples at home? How many
organizations have mounted great programs, filled with zeal: yet failed to make
disciples where they stand? How many
have undertaken to make disciples: yet fallen short of their goal, because they
got caught up in a program?
[4]
Shall we make disciple in all the foreign nations: yet neglect the local
nation? It is commonly said that these
around us do not deserve to hear the Gospel a second time, they have already
heard it once. Yet, I tell you that the
Gospel must be preached repeatedly until hearts are broken and people are made
disciples. People must become lifelong
learners of the Bible and lifelong followers of Jesus: this is The Church, and
nothing less will suffice.
[5]
Disciples are made by the externally visible actions of the baptizing and the
teaching of heeding or of guarding, of holding in precious loving obedience all
the things of Christ. Nothing else
matters to the Christian.
[6]
Soon these eleven, together with some friends would write four detailed
instruction manuals about how the disciples learned the discipling task and how to pass it on. We know these manuals as Matthew, Mark, Luke,
and John.
[7] If you have been blessed or helped by any of these meditations,
please repost, share, or use any of them as you wish. No rights are reserved. They are designed and intended for your free
participation. They were freely
received, and are freely given. No other
permission is required for their use.
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