Praying the Stations of the Resurrection: 9, 10 and 11
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.
Ninth Station:
Jesus commissions 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 John (20.21-23)
Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
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 as you were sent by the Father, so you send us.
Equip your Church with the gifts to fulfil our calling
that we may love as you loved,
serve as you served,
and willingly follow wherever you lead.
To you, Lord Jesus,
gifting your people,
be honour and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.
Tenth Station:
Jesus breathes the Spirit in the upper room
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 (20.22,23)
When Jesus had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
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 breathed new life into your astonished disciples.
As you turned unutterable grief into unshakeable joy,
so renew and refresh your turbulent world
and establish now your reign of peace.
To you, Lord Jesus,
transforming the pain of death into the fullness of life,
be honour and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.
Eleventh Station:
Jesus reveals himself to Thomas
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 (20.24-29)
Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’ A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
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 come to us even in our doubting.
Through the sovereign work of your Spirit,
and the loving hands of your people,
continue to reveal yourself where doubt is stronger than faith.
To you, Lord Jesus,
whose resurrection body bears the murderous marks of the cross,
be honour and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.