Discipleship Defined

Week One - Day 4

Today's Reading -- Matthew 10:1 to Matthew 12:32

"Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness" (10:1).  I have to admit that Mathew's placement of this single verse has never struck me the way it has on this occasion of reading the gospel for this New Testament Journey.  It reminds me of a version of Pentecost, the giving of the Holy Spirit and the empowerment for going out into the world.  In my mind, firming established by the reading of the rest of the New Testament and reinforced by the liturgical calendar of the Church, the Holy Spirit and accompanying powers to go forth for Christ are not given to the company of believers until after the death and resurrection of Jesus.  As we will see when we reach the end of Matthew's gospel account and the giving of the Great Commission, there is no granting of the Spirit; just the commissioning to go to all nations to make disciples, to baptize, and to teach.

For Matthew there seems to be no waiting for future events to play themselves out.  Jesus is now fully present to the disciples, and if they are to have a share in Jesus' ministry, to be sent out as a sign that 'The Kingdom of heaven has come near' (10:7), their witness needs to be backed up with acts that witness to the mercy and love of God.  After lining them up in groups of two (Peter and Andrew, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew, James and Thaddaeus, Simon and Judas) and giving them extensive instructions (10:5-42), they seem to go one way while Jesus another (the entirety of chapter 11).

The disciples are told to stay away from the Gentiles and Samaritans, limiting their contact with those of the house of Israel who are "lost sheep."  Mathew does not portray Jesus as having his disciples stretch the boundaries of his ministry beyond the Jewish people, at least not yet.  There is much to do close at hand and with those with whom we already share a history and affection.  But let's not be fooled into thinking that there are limits on God's call to redemption and inclusion.  The Great Commission lies ahead.