Many of us would describe our St. Paul’s community as a family. I think that’s a good thing. We are more like a family than like a business or a club or service organization or a school or a dojo or a city or a ship of fools. Though we may be all those things, too, I still believe that family — actually I prefer household — to be much more apt than any other comparison. At the same time, it’s important to say what we mean when we say St. Paul’s is family. It’s important because we are called to invite others into the life of this family, and we would do well to be able to explain what being a member of this family entails and what benefits we receive from it.

Sometimes, we fail to see what's right in front of our eyes, until someone shows us it's there. Two men, traveling companions, are walking down the road. A third man comes along and walks with them. The two traveling companions have just witnessed the arrest and execution of their friend and teacher. They know he died. I wonder, what are the odds that the third man isn't just some strange traveler, but actually their teacher and friend risen from the dead?