Pray the Stations of the Resurrection: 12, 13, and 14
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 in their entirety here 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.
Twelfth Station
Jesus appears at the lakeside
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 (21.9-13)
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
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 at the lakeside you showed concern for the daily needs of your disciples.
As you guided them to fill their nets with fish,
so guide all who are hungry
till their hunger is satisfied in you.
To you, Lord Jesus,
sharing with us the food of faith,
be honour and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.
Thirteenth Station
Jesus confronts Peter
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 (21.15-19)
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’
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 even in the glorious victory of the resurrection
you understood the failure of Peter who denied you.
As you restored him to relationship with you,
remember all who feel downcast and worthless in this world’s eyes
and give them a sense of purpose and value.
To you, Lord Jesus,
loving us despite our denial,
be honour and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.
Fourteenth Station:
Jesus and the beloved disciple
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 (21.20-23)
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?’ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!’ So the rumour spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?’
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 your single-minded commitment to your Father’s will.
May we be free from distractions of envy or self,
that we might walk the way of the cross
and know the power of your risen life.
To you, Lord Jesus,
treading boldly on the path of suffering,
be honour and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.