TOPIC: GO TO ALL NATIONS
1. STORY
Fr. John went on a tour to China. The tour group stopped in a department store
to buy some souvenirs. He walked around
the store and came to where paintings were being sold and asked the young
Chinese salesgirl which painting she liked most. She immediately pointed to a painting of a
girl with folded hands praying. T his surprised Fr. John very much as religion
was a topic not often spoken of in a communist controlled country like China. He then asked her why she liked this picture. He said she was a Catholic. Again, this response surprised Fr. John and he
asked her how was it that she was a Catholic. She said her grandmother taught her about
Jesus and arranged for her baptism. Even
under difficult circumstances, the Gospel was being preached.
2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 28:16-20
A) GO TO ALL NATIONS
Jesus tells us very clearly where we must go to share the good news. We must go to the over 6 billion people
throughout the world. We must go to the
rich and poor, the educated and not educated, and to those who welcome us and
do not welcome us.
B) MAKE DISCIPLES OF THEM
Jesus not only tells us where we must go but also tells us very clearly
what we must do. We must make disciples
of all. We must tell them of the great
peace and happiness that will be theirs when they come to know, love, and serve
God.
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A) GO TELL ALL
Go to your family, your friends, your classmates, your colleagues, your
neighbours and whomever you may meet. Most
people live very busy lives and may not have the interest or time to think
about God. This should not discourage
us, rather it should challenge us to think of practical and interesting ways to
help them know about God.
B) MAKE THEM DICIPLES
THE FOLLOWING ARE STEPS TO HELP ONE BECOME A DISCIPLE OF JESUS.
i) One must know that Jesus exists and can help them find peace and
happiness.
ii) One must study the basic teachings of Jesus by attending a weekly
class for about 18 months.
iii) One must be baptized and live a life following the instructions of
Jesus by loving God, neighbour and self.
4. CONCLUSION
In the story, under difficult circumstances, the grandmother was able to
make her granddaughter a disciple of Jesus. She obeyed Jesus’ command to go and make all
his disciples. We also must obey Jesus’
command by going to all whom we meet and tell them about God and pray that they
will accept God who is the source of peace and happiness.
