Today’s Gospel and Luke’s whole theology of the Spirit, which will unfold in Acts, is a chronicle of the way God can walk with us in surprising, often unknown ways, reversing our path from fear and disappointment to make of us bearers of the power of the risen one.

The shepherd imagery is deeply rooted in biblical thought.

People frequently ask, “What is the church?” Today’s readings provide foundational images for God’s own people.

Dic nobis Maria quid vidisti in via sepulchrum Christi viventis et gloriam vidi resurgentis Yes tell us again Mary what did you see on your journey I saw the tomb of one who still lives and the glory of the risen one The core of Easter faith resounds through these words from the poetic Easter

He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave (Phil. 2:7)

Death has been too much our companion in recent months near us not only in the disaster of Sept 11 but in molten lava submerging a village crumbling houses in Turkey and a horrendous fire in Lagos Death walks with Jesus in today rsquo s Gospel as he moves in measured pace toward his suffering a