Into the third week of Easter, we begin to see a kind of pattern emerging which is THE pattern of our lives as Christians...life, death and resurrection. It is the pattern of the life of Christ obviously. It is also the pattern of his followers.

In the liturgy today we hear proclaimed the story of Stephen professing faith in the Father who sent the Son with confidence and he pays with his life for such a proclamation. he also asks for forgiveness for those who kill him. Sound familiar? The pattern is established as the Church's first martyr follows the Lord all the way to death and beyond.

Watching in the wings is another who will be drawn into the same pattern of life death and resurrection- Saul of Tarsus who will become The Apostle- Paul.

And so, the first generations of Christians begin to follow and imitate the Lord Jesus. And new life comes from their fidelity. Had they refused the pattern, we would not be calling ourselves Christians today. We are their inheritors. We have life because they gave theirs. What will we do with ours?