Pray the Stations of the Resurrection: 6, 7 and 8

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.

Sixth Station:

The road to Emmaus

Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.

Reading

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (24.28-35)

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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 you are with us,

even when our eyes are closed to your companionship.

Walk this day alongside the disconsolate and the despairing,

open their eyes to your gentle illumination,

and let their hearts burn within them at your invisible presence.

To you, Lord Jesus,

walking by our side,

be honour and glory, now and for ever.

Amen.

 

Seventh Station:

Jesus appears to the disciples 

Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.

Reading

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (24.36-43)

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.

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 in your birth you were proclaimed the Prince of Peace,

and in your resurrection you breathe into your people

peace beyond this world’s understanding.

Be present, Lord, this day

with those whose lives are disfigured by conflict

and those whose hearts know no peace.

To you, Lord Jesus,

true bringer of the peace of heaven,

be honour and glory, now and for ever.

Amen.

 

Eighth Station:

Jesus promises the Spirit 

Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.

Reading

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (24.44-49)

Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you – that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’

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 you promised that the same power

that was at work when you were raised from the dead

would also be alive in us.

Show your power to those who are powerless;

reveal your love to those who feel unlovely

and through your Spirit enable all your people

to be witnesses of your amazing grace.

To you, Lord Jesus,

daily renewing your people and your creation,

be honour and glory, now and for ever.

Amen.