Many people have asked me this question quietly, sometimes with curiosity, sometimes with a bit of fear: “What exactly did Jesus ask of us before He left?” It is a beautiful and serious question, because it touches the very heart of why the Church exists at all. The Great Commission is not just a line at the end of the Gospel—it is a loving entrustment, a final act of confidence Jesus places in His disciples, including you and me.
The Great Commission comes from the risen Jesus Christ, spoken shortly before His Ascension into heaven. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says to His followers: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” These words are gentle yet powerful. Jesus does not simply give an order; He gives a mission wrapped in a promise—I am with you.
What is striking is that Jesus speaks these words not to perfect people, but to ordinary men and women who had struggled, doubted, and even failed Him. This tells us something important: the Great Commission is not reserved for saints in stained-glass windows. It is entrusted to real people, walking through real lives. The Church understands this moment as the birth of her missionary identity. From that hillside in Galilee, the Gospel begins to move outward, toward every culture, every language, every wounded heart.
At its core, the Great Commission is about making disciples, not simply sharing ideas or winning arguments. To make a disciple is to invite someone into a living relationship with Christ—to help them encounter His mercy, learn His ways, and grow in love. Baptism marks the beginning of this new life, and teaching helps it mature. Evangelization, then, is not pressure or persuasion; it is an act of love. We share what has given us life because love naturally longs to be shared.
For many Christians today, the Great Commission can feel overwhelming. How can I reach “all nations”? Yet Jesus does not ask each of us to do everything—He asks us to be faithful where we are. For some, this means raising children in faith. For others, it is living with integrity at work, speaking truth gently, or offering quiet witness through compassion and service. Every sincere act of love done in Christ becomes part of this great mission.
There is also deep comfort in Jesus’ final promise: “I am with you always.” He knew His followers would feel weak at times. He knew the world could be hostile or indifferent. And so He did not send us alone. The Great Commission is never carried by human strength alone; it is sustained by Christ’s living presence in His Church, especially through the Word, the Sacraments, and the quiet movements of grace in our hearts.
In this way, the Great Commission is not a burden, but a gift. It gives meaning to our faith and direction to our lives. We are not wandering aimlessly through history; we are sent. Each generation receives this mission anew, and each believer discovers how God wishes to live it through their own unique life.
Reflection – A Closing Thought
May we never forget that the Great Commission begins not with our effort, but with Christ’s love and His promise to remain with us. Let us ask for the grace to witness not loudly, but faithfully, so that others may see His light through our lives.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way