Galilee
Acts 2:14, 22–33; Psalm 16; Matthew 28:8–15
In the gospel, Jesus told his disciples to meet him up in Galilee (Matt. 28:10). Galilee is well-known for being the setting of numerous biblical stories as well as the location of Jesus’ three-year ministry. And so, it represents normality, that is, everyday life.
Today, you don’t have to visit Galilee to meet Jesus, nor do you have to visit any river to encounter him. We are going to meet Jesus in the activities of our daily lives. The stations of the cross remind us of this: “Seek me not in faraway places; I am very close to you; at home, in the street, on the play grounds, in the markets, etc..” Therefore, let us approach our daily realities with a sense of love and humility.
Lastly, in the first reading, we are presented with Peter’s address. The Bible says that on the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed the crowd in a loud voice: “Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you, as you all know.” Peter spoke boldly about Christ to the people. This address is regarded as the first sermon in Christian history. We, too, are invited to speak about Christ to the people we meet in our everyday lives.
Let us pray
O God, who gives constant increase to your church by new offspring, grant that your servants may hold fast in their lives to the sacrament they have received in faith. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
