Feel the Easter joy by following the Lord

It is our belief that Jesus rose from the dead.

The gospel of Matthew said, “Filled with awe and great joy, the women came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell the disciples about their encounter with the risen Christ. He told them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee’.”

The first thing that catches my attention is Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid”.

I was trying to capture the fear of the women and the disciples after the death of the person they were hoping for.

Have you been in the same situation as the women in the text of the scripture, who came first to the tomb?

Have you experienced a situation of hopelessness and emptiness?

What makes you hopeless and empty today?

Jesus wants them to be filled with hope when they see the empty tomb.

Another thing that catches my attention is the word “Galilee”.

Of all the many places in Israel, why in Galilee?

It was said that Jesus grew up and began his ministry in this region, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light’.

Numerous recorded miracles of Jesus took place in Galilee.

It was in the shore of the sea of Galilee where Jesus called his first disciples.

It was on a mountain in Galilee where Jesus commissioned his disciples, commanding them to go and make disciples of all nation.

Like Jesus and his disciples, we have our own personal ‘Galilee’ in life, where God is calling you to leave yourself behind with your emptiness and hopelessness.

Easter time is a time of great joy, but that joy will only happen when we learn how to leave things behind and follow to the Lord.

Happy Easter to all. God bless you.

~ Contributed by Fr Line Abilgos of St Michael’s Catholic Church, on behalf of the Combined Churches of Deniliquin.