Synod 2011

All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.
of all nations baptising 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 lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.

• It is the Risen Jesus who speaks;
• He speaks to his disciples;
• It is the only appearance to disciples in Mt;
• It occurs on a mountain in Galilee to which
Jesus directed them;
• It is the final scene, and climax, of the Gospel;
• Some of the disciples had doubted the resurrection;
• It is a biblical “farewell discourse”.

All things have been delivered to me by my
Father; and no one knows the Son except the
Father, and no one knows the Father except the
Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Mt 11:27. Luke 10:22
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests on him. Jn 3:25

• The imperative is to make disciples;
• Disciple: used frequently 70 times;
• Refers to those who follow Jesus;
• Disciples of Jesus;
• Make others what you are!
• Witness – Luke;
• Passion / zeal;
• Make this central to one’s life.

• Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall proclaim justice to the nations .
He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will any one hear his voice in the streets; he will not break a bruised reed or quench a smouldering wick, till he brings justice to victory and in his name will the nations hope . Mt 12:18ff Is 42:1-4

• Baptism of Jesus: He will baptise you in the Spirit and in fire Mt 8:13
• Paul: incorporation into the death and resurrection of Jesus: the Risen Lord;
• Sharing the life of the Trinity;
• Rediscovery of Baptism: Vatican ll.

• Discipleship is baptism and living according to the teaching of Jesus.
• Not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord”.
Shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of the Father who is in heaven. Mt 7:21-22
• Why do you call me “Lord Lord”, and not do what I tell you. Lk 6:46
• Commandments / virtues / will of God.

• I will not leave you desolate, I will come to you…if a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Jn 14:18,23
• The Spirit: the presence of Jesus.
• Presence in the NT / OT.
• The fish: Evelyn Underhill.

• Jesus is with us, the Spirit is guiding us.
• We proclaim Jesus to draw people to be his disciples.
• Discipleship is the goal of our preaching.
• The goal of discipleship is service.
• Service involves the transformation of our society, by the power of the Gospel.
• Apostolic charity, apostolic initiative.
• This is what our faith involves.

• We have the numbers to influence our society: 5,000,000????
• But we don’t have a proportionate influence.
• Most are more influenced by the world than by us: by the pressures on them rather than their own faith commitment.
• This is true even within our diocese.
• Are our parishes, organisations really
Catholic?

A critical mass of mature disciples of Jesus
Australia: 60% Christian. A majority, but not a critical mass.
We can have a majority but not a critical mass, even in our parishes / organisations.
Critical mass = a group which has a defining influence on the parish / organisation.
Religious in Hospitals and Schools: critical mass.
Critical mass of mature disciples.

• Do we have a critical mass of mature believers?
• Mission / maintenance (Congregationalism)
• Sense of belonging v. committed faith.
• It is committed / mature faith that proclaims
Jesus.
• We must be like the apostles.
• Come out / be proactive.
• What do we need to do to bring this about?

All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising 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 lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.