For the secular world Easter has ended. Sunday has come and gone, the bunny has left his treats, the meal has been eaten, the wine poured and drunk. Traveling done, shopping done, visiting done.
It's easy to forget that the Easter event is such a profound and central one that our Church sets asside, not one day, nor even two or three. No, we spend the next 50 days feasting and rejoicing and sharing joy-filled "Happy Easters" with everyone we meet.
At our Easter Masses we will spend the next 50 days recalling the many ways Christ made himself known to his friends through the 40 days from the resurrection to his ascension. The breakfasts on the beach, the breaking of bread, his appearance in the midst of the disciples locked away in fear of the world and what it might do to them. His peace-filled words "Do not be afraid".
On
Tuesday April 27, 2010 from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm you are invited to spend some time in refelction of these events, contemplating the impact they have on your own relationships with those around you and with your Lord and God. This evening of retreat and reflection is called
"The Stations of the Resurrection". As the name suggests, it is based on the traditional "Stations of the Cross" but continues the story beyond the crucifixion and death to the resurrection and the events which follow.
It is in a Powerpoint format with graphics and music to aid in focussing our attention and our contemplations. It is shared prayer, very much like the Stations from which they get their name. We would very much like for you to join us for this simple hour of peace and prayer. No registration or fee is required, just your loving and prayer-filled presence.
Below you will find the graphics and prayers used in the presentation itself. You may like to use them as part of your own prayer time throughout these fifty days. Though the experience is not as deeply fulfilling as it would be in person, nonetheless we hope you find some joy and nourishment in them;
The Stations of the Resurrection
Fifteenth Station
The Resurrection accounts in the Gospels do not betray the mystery that surrounds the Christ. We are told “That he has risen from the dead” but we can only see “that he is not here”. Somewhere between the fact of his absence from the tomb and the mysterious message of the angel, we are held in faith and hope until we are confronted with the reality that changes our lives: Jesus is risen!
Prayer:Lord Jesus, you are risen. Your commitment to the Father's plan has won out in the end. In my commitment to you, you carry me to victory also. I do believe in hope fulfilled. I do believe in the victory that awaits me if I remain faithful to you. I wait for you to pierce the mystery so that I can see you risen and allow my life to be changed.First Station - The Empty Tomb
Matthew 28:1-7Now after the sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Mag'dalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.
His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you."
Reflection:Imagine the profound emotions the women felt: despair on top of grief, compounded with anguish. Where was the Master's body? What were they to do now? Suddenly, into the midst of darkness, the angel's words resounded in their hearts: “Do not be afraid!” Could they dare believe that his death was like no other, just as he had foretold? Hope begins to rise within them.
Prayer:Risen Jesus, you give hope when everything in life collapses. In our moments of darkness and despair, help us to look beyond death to the Resurrection that is ours when we follow you.Second Station - Doubting Thomas
John 20:24-29Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, 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 in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe." Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but 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; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." 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 believe."
Reflection:“Lord we believe...help our unbelief.” Like Thomas, we too find ourselves locked in rooms of doubt and despair. In the midst of our own anguish and loneliness, Jesus calls us to make the same profession of faith: “My Lord and My God.” Doubt changes to belief. Despair becomes trust. The dawn of a new day lies before us.
Prayer:Risen Jesus, you reveal yourself in the new and impossible ways. At those times when we doubt your presence in our lives, give us the power to hope and trust at every moment.
Third Station - The Road to Emmaus
Luke 24:13-35That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma'us, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cle'opas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see."
And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight.
They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Reflection:The disciples on the road to Emmaus were challenged to believe that they had truly experienced the risen Jesus. Each day, we too are challenged in faith. Do we recognize Jesus along the road of life? Do we hear him in the brokenness of others: in the cry of the poor, the hurting child, the silence of the lonely? Do we see him in the breaking of the bread?
Prayer:Risen Jesus, we profess our belief in your presence in the breaking of the bread. May we who are nourished by Your body and blood in turn nourish those in need of your saving love.Fourth Station - Breakfast On the Beach
John 21:1-14After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe'ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan'a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb'edee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying 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 although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Reflection:How true it is that at those times in life when we are confused and in need of direction, we turn to those things which are most familiar to us. The disciples have experienced this all before: they are back in the boat, Jesus again enables them to fill their nets and Peter, griped by the power and the promise of Christ, once again leaves everything behind.
Prayer: Risen Jesus, you come to us in the ordinary, everyday things of our lives. Help us not to miss these daily opportunities to follow you.Fifth Station - Feed My Sheep
John 21:15-19When 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." He 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." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved 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.
Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me."
Reflection:Peter is asked again and again and again to confirm his love for Christ. We too are asked daily for that same confirmation of love. But how do we do this? What does it really mean when we say, “I love you Lord Jesus”? Jesus beckons: “Feed my sheep.”
Prayer:Risen Jesus, you ask us to care for your very own. Help us to seek those who are lost and offer hope. Move us to welcome the alienated with a smile and a warm embrace. Empower us to share not only our material blessings but our very selves. To truly love you Lord Jesus is to love as you have loved.Sixth Station - Mission And Ascension
Luke 24:46-48, Matthew 28:18-20 and Luke 24:50-53...and (he) said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.
Reflection:Psychologists say that one of the greatest fears experienced by humanity is the fear of abandonment. No one wants to be left alone. The disciples gathered at Bethany probably felt the same way. How strong the temptation must have been to cling to Jesus, to not let him out of their sight. Yet Jesus challenges the disciples to let go of him and reach out to others instead, sharing with everyone the Good News of salvation. Only in his absence could they live out his presence.
Prayer:Risen Jesus, you empower us to speak your words to others. In a world that is skeptical about religious faith, give us the courage of the first apostles to go forth and proclaim Your presence in our lives.Seventh Station - Pentecost
Acts 2:1-4When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Reflection:Jesus, come to us with the power of your Spirit. Come like wind to blow the dust and cobwebs from the closed and musty rooms of our minds. Come like a storm to shake loose our concepts of ourselves as people with the only limited possibilities in the working out of your will. Come like torrents of rain to wash away the petty concerns that keep us from living out your love. Come like the sun to show us a new vision of ourselves as people possessed with dynamic power if we allow ourselves to be used by you.
"He's Alive!" MP3
Risen Jesus, come to us with the power of your Spirit. Wrap us in the flames of fresh commitment as once you set fire to the church in Jerusalem. Move through us, making us alive to the life you offer us, life in a new dimension of faith and service. May we witness to all the world that our Lord lives and can call to himself a people who will live in the power of his love, through Jesus Christ our Lord.Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!
3:50 PM
Christ The King Parish
