Fr. Nnamdi Moneme, OMV: 5 Steps to Recognize the Risen Christ in Our Lives

By Fr. Nnamdi Moneme, OMV, Catholic Exchange, April 28, 2026

Fr. Nnamdi Moneme OMV is a Roman Catholic Priest of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary currently on missionary assignment in the Philippines. He serves in the Congregations’ Retreat Ministry and in the House of Formation for novices and theologians in Antipolo, Philippines. He blogs at www.toquenchhisthirst.wordpress.com.

Jesus drew near and walked with them.

The risen Christ draws close to walk with His unfaithful disciples who abandoned Him during the suffering of His passion (see Luke 24:13-35). They also abandoned the community of faith after they heard news of His resurrection. They were discouraged when He spoke to them. “They stopped, looking downcast.” They are overwhelmed and disappointed by all the events of Christ’s death, explaining, “But we were hoping that He would be the one to redeem Israel.” They did not believe His words or the words of those who had said that He had risen, as He promised.

Despite their past failures, present confusion, discouragement, lack of faith, and infidelity to Jesus and the community of faith, the risen Christ still drew near and walked with them because they belong to Him much more now after His death and resurrection. In the words of St. Peter, “You were ransomed from your futile conduct handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb” (1 Pet. 1:17-21). The risen Christ does not draw close to them because they are faithful and loyal to Him; He draws close to them because He has purchased them with the price of His blood and by His resurrection. …

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