Jesus appears to more than five hundred brethren in Galilee
a) Reflection on God’s Word
“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them: ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.’” (Mt 28:16-19)
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mk 16:16-18)
And Jesus said: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20) Jesus was with the apostles, and He is with us too, but we also must be with Him. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). His promise is true today as well but the condition is to preach the Gospel in power and to be ready even to lay down one’s life for its sake and for the sake of Christ.
The first miracle – the healing of a crippled man (Acts 3:6): Peter and John witnessed to that miracle before the chief priests: “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” (Acts 4:10-12)
Tabitha was raised to life through the faith of the Apostle Peter (Acts 9:36f) and a young man named Eutychus was raised to life through the faith of the Apostle Paul (Acts 20:7f).
God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.” (Acts 19:10-12)
Peter testified for Jesus in the house of Cornelius: “God raised Him… we ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.” (Acts 10:40f)
The Apostle Paul writes: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom 10:9)
About 20 years after Christ’s resurrection, Paul witnessed to the Corinthians: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brethren (in Galilee) at one time, most of whom are still alive.” (1Cor 15:1-6)
b) Recitation of God’s Word (5 min):
We all repeat: “Christ appeared to more than five hundred brethren in Galilee at one time.”
c) Prayer according to God’s Word (5 min):
We all repeat: “Ye-ho-shu-aa-aa-aa [*]” and one adds: “May we carry out a mission in the same power as the apostles and martyrs!”
d) Song (5 min):
“O Lord, this is You who have found me”
[*] How to call on the name of God with a living faith? When breathing out, pronounce the syllable “Ye” and realize the presence of God the Father; when breathing out the second time, pronounce the syllable “ho” and realize the presence of God the Son; third time “shu” – realize the presence of God the Holy Spirit. Finally breathe out “aa” without producing a sound. Then after taking a breath, breathe out “aa” again. And then try to personally experience the given truth the third time again.
Download: New edition of the prayer booklet for the celebration of Sunday – format doc , format pdf
Download: Death and Resurrection of Christ /a contemplative prayer/