'Go to the Galilee of your lives,' young Filipino Priest tells Congregations

The Filipino priest urged the congregations to "enter into the Galilee of their own lives" while reflecting on the Gospel of Easter Monday, April 2, 2024.

Fr. Kimrey Pintor of the Santo Rosario parish in Cebu City, Philippines, said that in the Gospel of Matthew (28:8–15), there’s an angle that’s as powerful as the empty tomb symbolizing Jesus’ Resurrection, which is Galilee. 

“Filled with awe and great joy, the women came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell the disciples."

And there, coming to meet them, was Jesus. ‘Greetings’ he said. And the women came up to him and, falling before him, clasped his feet. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; they will see me there.’”

According to Fr. Pintor, the place is called Galilee, not in the geographical sense but as a place in every Christian’s journey where he encounters Jesus amid tribulations. 

He expressed that a faith experience, be it through answered prayers or a miraculous escape from a fatal accident, where one feels the love of God, is akin to a Galilee. One should never forget such an experience, as it provides spiritual nourishment throughout their life.

The young cleric, with just two years of priestly ministry, shared with the congregations that 14 years prior, he narrowly escaped a serious vehicular accident. Something prevented it from happening, and the memory remains vivid in his mind to this day.

Fr. Pintor experienced his own Galilee route to a Christmas carol practice session, intended to fundraise for church programs. While riding a motorcycle with a friend, they spotted a beautiful lady in a car on the same path. His friend, enamored with the lady, nearly lost focus when she directed her gaze towards them. The fleeting glance from the woman left such an impression that his friend continued to chatter away while driving, utterly elated and too distracted to watch the road.

A few meters ahead was an old bridge and with the motorcycle still at full speed, it almost hit the concrete structure but for some unexplainable reason, the vehicle came to a full stop just a few inches away from the span. Fr. Pintor stated that their realization of having escaped death left them shaken. The motorbike they were riding could have crashed on the steel and concrete bridge and they could have been thrown away from the impact of the collision. 

Looking back, he said the experience told him that God has plans for him and strengthened his resolve to enter the priesthood.

“What is your Galilee? Have you experienced a supernatural experience where you encountered the love of God?  Whatever it is, that is your Galilee.  Never forget the Galilee of your lives.  Keep the memory alive and draw strength from it when faced with difficult situations,” he said in Cebuano. - Malou Guanzon-Apalisok