THE NEW GALILEE
Grace: I ask to share deeply in the joy of the Risen Christ in my daily
life as I am sent out into the world.
Reading: Mk 16: 1-8
Introduction:
Galilee is the place where Jesus and his disciples
were living their daily life. They were
fishermen, tax collector, and scholars....
They were doing their ordinary chores.
There were days of excitement when there was “big” catch, and there were
days full of boredom. After the
resurrection, Jesus asks Mary of Magdala to tell his disciples to meet with him
in Galilee. This time it was still the
same place, however, everything changed.
They were still fishermen but they are now sent to be fishers of
men. They were all filled with the Holy
Spirit. There were no more personal
gain but all for the glory of God. How
does the resurrection affect my life?
The same place, the same people I am living with, the same school/job
day in and day out. How can I live my
“old” life with the new Easter spirit ?
When Mary of Magdala, Mary Mother of James, and
Salome went to the tomb, they were conscious only of honoring the memory of
Jesus. They were met by the
unexpected! They found to their
amazement that the stone sealing the entrance to the tomb had been rolled
away. They expected to anoint the
corpse of Jesus, but found the tomb was empty.
Their spices were no longer necessary.
Nothing was as the women had planned
and prepared for. The time of mourning
they had so carefully set aside ended abruptly when they were commanded by the
angel, “You must go.” Jesus’ tomb has
become the starting point for mission where the disciples are sent forth. Jesus was no longer sealed and found in
death. He was gone but his absence
revealed that the Crucified One was alive.
Christ has risen. The women, and
we, will not find the living one among the dead (Lk 24: 5). We, too, must attend to the angel’s
message; we, too, must proceed to “Galilee.”
There we will find what we seek.
Galilee was the original site of
Jesus’ first call to his disciples. The
summons to Galilee now becomes both a command and a promise. In Galilee, his presence will be most
visible. Galilee represents the place
of reconciliation between Jews and Gentile.
It now symbolically extends to the world a promise of peace and oneness
made possible in Christ’ presence. “New
Galilee” is the fullness of community when everyone is reconciled within
himself and with others.
1/ How am I called to live the spirit of
Easter in my ordinary daily life?
2/ If Galilee represents the place of
reconciliation and I am called to be there, how am I called to reconcile? With whom do I need to reconcile? Where do I need God to heal me?
3/ In Galilee, the disciples began forming the
first community. Their unity is
hallmark to being called Christians.
How am I called to live and share in community?
4/ Jesus appeared to the disciples in Galilee
and asked them to “Go and proclaim the Good News.” (Mk 16:15) Like them, we
are missioned and sent forth into the world.
How do I see myself as light and salt for the world? What am I called to do to serve my family,
my friends, my community, my nho’m, my world?
Prayer Time: Play soft
music in background. Facilitator helps
everyone into the presence of God . Ask
those who feel moved to say prayer out loud.
Facilitator ends by saying a short concluding prayer. (The facilitator can also help everyone do
the Examen of Consciousness in place of prayer time.)
To conclude: sing One Bread One Body or say the Our Father or
whatever appropriate.