The Resurrection
STEP
1
Discovering Jesus
(Scripture)
John 20 1-9 - The Empty Tomb
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to
Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken
the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other
disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster
than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but
did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the
burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but
rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived
at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the scripture
that he had to rise from the dead.
STEP
2
The Rest of the Story
(Teaching/Catechist)
ⴕ The risen Jesus reveals his glory and confers the Spirit. This story fulfills the basic
need for testimony to the resurrection. What we have here is not a record but a
series of single stories.
ⴕ The story of the empty tomb is found in both the Matthean and the Lucan
traditions; John’s version seems to be a fusion of the two.
ⴕ Still dark: according to Mark the sun had risen, Matthew describes it as “dawning,”
and Luke refers to early dawn. Mary sees the stone removed, not the empty tomb.
ⴕ Mary runs away, not directed by an angel/young man as in the synoptic accounts.
The plural “we” in the second part of her statement might reflect a tradition of
more women going to the tomb.
ⴕ The basic narrative is told of Peter alone in Lk 24:12, a verse missing in important
manuscripts and which may be borrowed from tradition similar to John.
ⴕ Some special feature about the state of the burial cloths caused the beloved
disciple to believe. Perhaps the details emphasized that the grave had not been
robbed.
March 27, 2016
http://www.sacredheartappleton.com/Seeking.html
The Resurrection
STEP
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STEP
Thought Sharing
3
(Small Group)
What word or phrase struck you?
Who is the Jesus you see in these scriptures?
With this insight, what action might Jesus be calling you to take?
What were they thinking when they got to tomb and found it empty? For as
scripture states; “. For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise
from the dead.”
4
Intercessory Prayer
(Intercessory Prayer - is the act of praying on behalf of others.)
After each intercession:
Leader: We pray.
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STEP
All: Christ is risen, Alleluia!
Give us the strength to run faster and faster towards Jesus.
Help us to have true faith and belief in the risen Christ.
Make us worthy of the empty tomb!
Add your own intentions
5
Closing Prayer
(Prayer)
Prayer before the empty tomb of Jesus
Roll away the stone of self-pity that counts all the losses.
Roll away the stone of self-defeat.
Roll away the stone of our deadly choices.
Roll away the stone of negativity and pessimism.
Roll away the stone of aggression and self-glory.
Roll away the stone of all I claim to be impossible.
Roll away the stone of rebellion and inner resistance.
Roll away the stone of indifference and laziness.
Roll away the stone of regrets and the nursing of old wounds.
Roll away the stone of alienation and entitlement.
March 27, 2016
http://www.sacredheartappleton.com/Seeking.html
The Resurrection
Roll away the stone of skepticism and the doubting of your divine promises.
Roll away the stone of suspicion and defensiveness.
Roll away the stone of hard-heartedness, ignorance and stereotyping.
Roll away the stone of addiction.
Roll away the stone of blaming and lies.
Roll away the stone of Luke warmness in prayer.
Roll away the stone of anxiety and procrastination.
Roll away the stone of posturing and empty argument.
Roll away the stone of our well-armed hearts.
Roll away the stone of cold suspicion and compulsion.
Christ is Risen from the dead,
Trampling down death by death,
And upon those in the tomb,
Bestowing life!
STEP
6
A Point to Ponder
(Personal Meditation)
What are the things in your life you need to “roll away the stone” for?
March 27, 2016
http://www.sacredheartappleton.com/Seeking.html