During Holy Week there is the long tradition of following the route of the Via Dolorosa, if not actually then certainly spiritually. But there is another journey that we can make and that is through the experience of resurrection as described in scripture. It was a journey that the disciples made, from the desolation of the Upper Room to the release from that locked-in, locked-down space into the freedom which Pentecost brought. I have tried in this set of ‘Stations of the Resurrection’ to take us on that journey. You can follow it on the Cathedral’s YouTube and Facebook channels – but the texts and the pictures are here for you to use in your own way and in your own time.
The Stations of the Resurrection
God of glory,
by the raising of your Son
you have broken the chains of death and hell:
fill your Church with faith and hope;
for a new day has dawned
and the way to life stands open
in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The First Station : A new dawn breaks
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And 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. (Matthew 28.1-3)
Lord Jesus, may each dawn fill us with resurrection hope. Amen.
The Second Station : The disciples run to the tomb
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. (John 20.3-6)
Lord Jesus, fill us with eager anticipation for each encounter with you. Amen.
The Third Station : Touch me not
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
Mary Magdalene turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. (John 20.14-17)
Lord Jesus, may we hear you speak our name and know your love in our lives. Amen.
The Fourth Station : In the upper room
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
Later Jesus appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. (Mark 16.14)
Lord Jesus, meet me in my doubts and in my questions with the assurance of your presence. Amen.
The Fifth Station : My Lord and my God
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
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!’ (John 20.26-28)
Lord Jesus, may your peace rest upon us; may we declare you our Lord and our God. Amen.
The Sixth Station : On the road
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. (Luke 24.13-16)
Lord Jesus, walk with us, our companion on our road. Amen.
The Seventh Station : The breaking of the bread
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
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. (Luke 24.30-35)
Lord Jesus, feed our hunger with your bread, quench our thirst with your wine, your body, your blood. Amen.
The Eighth Station : On the beach
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. (John 21.4)
Lord Jesus, may we recognise you even when we least expect you. Amen.
The Ninth Station : Come and have breakfast
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
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.’ (John 21.9-12)
Lord Jesus, meet us in the ordinary with your extraordinary love. Amen.
The Tenth Station : Feed my sheep
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
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. (John 21.15-17)
Lord Jesus, feed us as we feed others, tend us as we tend others. Amen.
The Eleventh Station : On the mount
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. (Luke 24.50-53)
Lord Jesus, bless us who look to you. Amen.
The Twelfth Station : At prayer
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
The apostles were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. (Acts 1.14)
Lord Jesus, give us a heart to pray, to lift ourselves to you. Amen.
The Thirteenth Station : Wind and flame
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. (Acts 2.1-4)
Lord Jesus, drive us with the Spirit’s wind, warm us with the Spirit’s flame, speak through us with the Spirit’s voice. Amen.
The Fourteenth Station : The witness
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.
Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. (Acts 2.14, 32)
Lord Jesus, may we be living witnesses to your life; may alleluia be our song. Amen.
Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life:
raise us, who trust in him,
from the death of sin to the life of righteousness,
that we may seek those things that are above
where he reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!
LIVING GOD 
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