Pray the Stations of the Resurrection

Many of us are accustomed to praying the Stations of the Cross as part of our Lenten or Good Friday meditations. In the latter part of the 20th century, however, a practice to help us mark the Resurrection in a similarly thoughtful way was introduced - after all, the season of Easter consists not of one glorious day, but 50. So this year we offer you the Stations of the Resurrection, as provided by the Church of England. 

We invite you to use the stations as a prompt for contemplative prayer, for imagination, for lectio divina practice and for spiritual creativity. What thoughts and images come to mind for you? Might you capture your response in a photo, drawing, or written reflection? If you would like to share your images or musings with the rest of us, please send them to Peggy.

We will generally offer two or three stations each week; there are 14 in total. 

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Station 1 -The Earthquake

Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.

Reading

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew (28.2-4)

Suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.

Sit with this text in quietness for a while; or hold it in your thoughts if you are going on a walk. What does it spark for you, or suggest to you? 

Prayer

We praise you and we bless you, our risen Lord Jesus, King of glory,

for in your resurrection the power of love breaks open the earth

and frees life from death.

As the angel rolled away the stone from the prison of the tomb,

so release those imprisoned by life’s misfortunes.

To you, Lord Jesus,

whose life brings surprises beyond our wildest expectations,

be honour and glory, now and for ever.

Amen.

Second Station: Mary Magdalene finds the empty tomb

Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.

Reading

A reading from the Gospel according to John (20.1,2)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’

Reflection or Meditation

Sit with this text in quietness for a while; or hold it in your thoughts if you are going on a walk. What does it spark for you, or suggest to you? 

Prayer

We praise you and we bless you, our risen Lord Jesus, King of glory,

for the love which drew Mary Magdalene to your tomb

to weep over your death.

As you broke into her grief with your death-shattering life,

so reach into our broken hearts with your promise of hope.

To you, Lord Jesus,

reaching into the deepest tombs of our despair,

be honour and glory, now and for ever.

All   Amen.