In those wee dark hours of Easter’s dawn, the fear and trembling initially felt by the women at the tomb gave way to wonder and courage. I imagine their eyes lighting up as they remembered Jesus’ promises. Everything he promised was true about death leading to the resurrection. They trusted even more everything he had taught and the way he lived.

From that day forward, they saw his face in the face of the stranger and continued to welcome those long excluded. They felt inspired to feed and heal and witnessed new miracles.

Jesus’ empty tomb gave them the responsibility to embody his ministry. They handed to the next generation this task to embody his ministry.

It is because he is absent that the church can arise as his body. Today, we find him by not looking inward or to the past but by venturing into the future. He calls us to be his hands and feet today.

This is how St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) describes the mission of every Christian:
Christ has no body now but yours: no hands, no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world.
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.
Yours are the hands with which he blesses the world.
In this issue of the Spire, we invite you to read of the varied ways Westminster strives to be his presence and imagine your own calling.

In faith,
Jo Forrest