Quick Summary:

Empires crave it, dictators covet it; governments and institutions strive for it. The enemies of Jesus insisted upon it. Security. Yet it is insecurity that has characterized so much of the year 2011 so far.

THE ROMANS—now they had security down pat. Those who dared go public in their opposition to Empire were met with brutal force: public execution by crucifixion. That way everyone knew where they stood. St. Matthew tells us that even though Jesus is dead, the community he left behind still presents some sort of security threat in the eyes of those who opposed him...

In the final verse of Matthew’s gospel, after the community that was scattered by his crucifixion is gathered together once more, Jesus gives instructions and then this final promise.
I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, he tells them, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE. There is no greater security than knowing this.