Homily For Monday The Octave of Easter, 1st April, 2024 (Happy New Month)

Readings: Acts.2:14.22-33; Ps. 16; Matt. 28:8-15
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia 
GALILEE A PLACE OF ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN LORD 

Yesterday we heard of the good news of his resurrection, but we have yet to encounter him. So today being a special day, is no doubt 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. For we heard in our Gospel passage today how 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 would see him. This invitation is very symbolic for all Christians because it is an invitation to a place of encounter with our risen Lord. It is the first instruction of the Lord to his disciples. All who believe in the Lord are invited to be part of this invitation to Galilee, for it is a moment when all doubt is cleared, all fear is gone and all hope is fulfilled. 

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, the Lower part of the mountain of 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, 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, pain, fear and uncertainty of the things of this passing world and journey towards Galilee to encounter the risen Lord with joy and praises of alleluia in our hearts. For we heard in our first reading how Peter and the other disciples after their encounter with the risen Lord expressed their experience with him to the people. We also are called to do the same after our encounter with him today at the Galilee. 

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.