The Stations of the Resurrection--First Station--Jesus is Raised from the Dead

("The Angel at the Tomb" by Gustave Doré)

Now that Easter is here, and I had so much fun writing my own Stations of the Cross, I've decided that, for Easter, to write my own Stations of the Resurrection (also known as the Via Lucis.) As with the Stations of the Cross, I will try to get one up every three days or so. I hope you will find them helpful for your Easter meditations!

So here we go...

Opening Prayers:

Leader: ✠In the name of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, our sustainer and redeemer,
People: Amen.

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!


Leader and People:

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

Leader: You have prepared for us, O Lord, eternal joys and delights that surpass our understanding.
People: Pour your Son's everlasting goodness into our hearts and feed us with the mysterious delicacies of your holy table. Amen.


The First Station--Jesus is raised from the Tomb

Leader: O Risen Christ, Light of the world, we adore you;
People: You rose from the dead and the stone of our iniquities was rolled away.

As Mary Magdalene and Mary of Clopas approached the tomb where Jesus was interred, they steeled themselves for a hostile reaction. Guards had been placed by the tomb to prevent the body from being stolen. They had already endured the guards' taunts, their wicked and rude comments, and their sexual innuendos. The kindness Jesus had shown upon them when he was alive seemed as dead as he was. But as they drew nearer, they were knocked to the ground by the movement of the earth itself. Suddenly the sky was filled with a brilliant flash of light, and to their amazement, they saw that the heavy stone covering the mouth of the tomb had rolled away from the entrance and was lying flat on the ground. Sitting atop the stone was a man in dazzling white robes, radiant like the sun. The guards wanted no part of what had happened, and the stress caused them to faint.

The two Marys shook with fear as they peeped into the tomb. It was empty! What did this angel do with him? "Don't be afraid," the angel said. "I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”

Leader: The two Marys had expected to find sorrow;
People: But instead found an angel and an empty tomb.

Leader: Let us pray.
(a brief period of silence is observed.)

Holy and immortal God,
Where we expect to find sorrow and fear,
help us to find light and life.
Where we expect to find tormentors,
help us to find angels.
Where we expect to find death,
help us to find resurrection.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.

People: Amen.

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!