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.

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

For Christ, while we were still godless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly (Rom. 5:6)

Eating with Jesus should be a time of healing, which can shock even customary religious sensitivities.

Christians today overly concerned about impressive gates and religious identity may find some surprising table companions at the messianic banquet.

As we prepare to celebrate the first coming of Jesus in history, the readings remind us that Christians should shape their faith in terms of hopes as well as of memories.