The Homily for The Octave of Easter Monday, 5th April, 2021

 The Homily for The Octave of Easter Monday, 5th April, 2021

Readings: Acts.2:14.22-33; Ps. 16; Matt. 28:8-15

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

LET US GO TO GALILEE, THERE  WE WILL ENCOUNTER THE RISEN LORD

Today is a special day, a day of encounter, a day we are called to leave the empty tomb of sorrow and go to Galilee, a place of personal encounter with the risen Lord. The women who came to the tomb early in the morning ran with fear and great joy. They had just encountered the Lord who invited them to go and tell their brothers that they must leave for Galilee, there, they will see him. 

Dear friends, this same invitation is given to us today. But where is Galilee? Galilee is a fertile, mountainous region in northern Israel. It is most notable for being the home of our Lord Jesus Christ. More specifically, Lower Galilee is where Jesus grew up and spent the better part of His earthly life and ministry. But Galilee is much more than these. It is any place of encounter, especially deep within our hearts, where we can find the Lord Jesus so often, because the risen Lord is no longer bound by time or space. Galilee can also be our neighbourhood, our family, any place of prayer, or any place we find the poor and the needy, the sick or anywhere we find ourselves aware of the presence of Jesus. Therefore, let us like the disciples leave behind the empty tomb of sorrow and journey towards Galilee to encounter the risen Lord with joy and praises of alleluia in our hearts. 

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, as we journey towards Galilee in expectation to encounter you personally, amidst the pains and sorrows of this life, may the joy of your presence known no bounds in our lives, you who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Do remain blessed.