For forty days, the Church has cried, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” But forty days after Jesus rose from the dead, he departed from his disciples and was enthroned in glory in heaven.

We must strive to reflect the love of Christ and his obedience to his Father in our lives. This isn’t optional or merely for overachievers. The branches, to connect with last week’s Gospel lesson, bear corresponding fruit of necessity.

Today’s Gospel gives us a rich metaphor for the Christian life. Jesus says I am the true vine…You are the branches. Of course, we cannot help but see that the branches are totally reliant upon the Vine for everything. So it is with Christians.

I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me. Yet as we consider this relationship, it’s a bad bargain for the shepherd!

The life and hope of the Church is built upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So what is the Gospel? The Gospel is simply good news. But any type of good news consists of two critical components: the event and the effect.

Peace. What does this word mean to you? Does your mind race to international affairs or domestic issues? Do you think of smoothing over things at the office or handling matters at home? Sometimes a word can be so full of meaning and ideas that we cannot adequately define it.

After more than a month of humble repentance and prayer, God’s people gather to celebrate the consumption of their prayers. Death has been defanged. The grave has been overhauled—no longer the end of life, but the beginning of eternal life.