Celebrating the 9th Easter of his pontificate, Pope Francis delivered a homily at the Liturgy of the Easter Vigil, reflecting on what it means to go to Galilee, where the Risen Lord would precede the disciples.
By Robin Gomes
In the hour of darkness, when mankind is facing a pandemic and other diseases, Christians must keep in mind the angel’s Passover message so as not to be afraid, make sure that in Galilee where the Lord precedes them, their expectations will be met, their tears will be dried, and their fears will be replaced by hope. Pope Francis emphasized in his homily at the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday night.
Reflecting on the Easter episode of the women at the tomb, the Pope drew attention to what the angel told them. “Wonder when you hear the words, ‘Do not be afraid! Said the Pope. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen. And a message: “He goes before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. “
It is always possible to start again
After the initial rite of blessing the fire and the Easter candle inside the basilica, Pope Francis and the concelebrants marched to the altar of the throne, with a deacon carrying the Easter candle. During the procession in the dark church, the candle flame was first transmitted to the Pope and then gradually to the concelebrants and the limited number of believers. After the Pope went up the main aisle, the lights of the basilica were turned on.
Entering 9of At the Easter of his pontificate, in his homily, the 84-year-old pontiff reflected on what it means to go to Galilee. First, it means starting over. Galilee was the place of the first meeting of the disciples with the Lord, their first love. Here they listened to him preach and work miracles. There, too, they misunderstood His words and forsook Him and fled before the cross.
In spite of all, the Lord invites them to start over. “In this Galilee,” said the Pope, “we learn to be amazed at the infinite love of the Lord, which opens new paths to our defeats.”
Therefore, he said, the first Easter message of returning to Galilee is that “it is always possible to start again despite all our failures. “From the rubble of our hearts,” said the Pope, “God can create a work of art; from the ruined remains of our humanity, God can prepare a new history ”. “In these dark months of the pandemic,” the Pope urged everyone to “listen to the Risen Lord as He invites us to begin again and never lose hope.”
Jesus surprises, brings faith to life
Going to Galilee also means embarking on new paths moving away from the grave. For many, the Pope said, faith is made up of habits, things from the past, wonderful childhood memories, but it is no longer a faith that excites or challenges me. On the other hand, going to Galilee means giving life to the faith and getting back on the road. We must renew the astonishment of the first meeting daily and let ourselves be humbled to be surprised by God’s ways. “Lord,” said the Pope, “it cannot be thrown into the memories of our childhood, but it is alive and full of surprises. Risen from the dead, Jesus never ceases to amaze us. ”
Therefore, the second Easter message of Pope Francis is that Christ is alive here and now. According to him, “Faith is not an album of past memories; Jesus is not overwhelmed. ” “He walks beside you every day, in every trial you have to endure, in your deepest hopes and dreams. Even if you feel that everything has been lost, let yourself be amazed by the novelty that Jesus brings: He will surely surprise you ”.
Galilee of the periphery
Going to Galilee also means going to the peripheries. Galilee, an outpost furthest from the ritual purity of Jerusalem, was where Jesus began his mission. There, He brought His message “to those who struggle to live from day to day, the excluded, the vulnerable, and the poor.”
On the periphery, God tirelessly seeks out those who are discouraged or lost. He goes to “even the peripheries of existence, because in His eyes no one is the least, no one is excluded.” Thus, the Risen Lord asks His disciples to go to the scenery of daily life, on the streets we walk every day, in the corners of our cities. “There the Lord goes before us and becomes present in the lives of those around us, of those who share our days, our home, our work, our difficulties and our hopes.” The pope said, “We will be amazed at how God’s greatness is revealed in little things, how His beauty shines in the poor and simple.”
Therefore, the third message of Easter is that the Risen Lord loves us without limits and is there in every moment of our lives. “He invites us to overcome barriers, banish prejudice and draw closer to those around us every day to rediscover thanks to everyday life“Let us recognize Him here in our Galilees, in our daily lives,” the Pope urged. “Beyond all defeats, evil and violence, beyond all suffering and death,” said the Pope, “The Risen One lives and guides history. ”