The Risen Jesus appeared to his disciples in Jerusalem. But according to Matthew, Jesus sent a message to his disciples to go to Galilee and they would see him there. Matthew does not deny that Jesus appeared to his disciples in Jerusalem. His thought is probably jumping ahead to another encounter with the Risen Jesus.

Jesus began his work in Galilee and journeyed through many places to Jerusalem. He would send his apostles to preach the Gospel; from Jerusalem to "the ends of the earth." Their return to Galilee was a real journey but in Matthew's thought it probably has a spiritual, even mystical, meaning. To return to Galilee meant to return to the origins of the Gospel. Spiritually and mystically they had to return to this fountain of the Gospel and to undertake once more the journey to Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would then enable them to begin their journey to "the ends of the earth."

Each time we use the Gospels for prayer we are returning to Galilee. For us, the Gospels are the fountain of light and truth, and we can only walk the journey of life if we are guided by the light of the truth.