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This is part two of our Stations of the Resurrection for Eastertide. For Stations 1 to 6, please follow this link. These have come to us from the United Benefice of Kirkdale with Harome, Nunnington and Pockley in North Yorkshire. Many thanks again to the Reverend Sue Binks for giving us permission to share this.

Seventh Station: Jesus appears at the lakeside

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in him will never die. Alleluia.

Reading – John 21:9-13

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, ‘Come and have breakfast’. Now none of the disciples dared to ask him. ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

Reflection

After the crucifixion, the apostles returned to their former way of life. Out on the familiar Sea of Galilee, these expert fishers find themselves ineffective and baffled because not even a single fish was caught. From the shore, the risen Lord guides them and directs their nets until they are filled to overflowing.

As Jesus prepares breakfast for them, he nourishes their hearts and promises them that they can also be fed by making disciples in his name – an entirely new way of fishing. The variety of fishes – 153 of them – that are hauled up in the nets is probably trying to tell us something quite important about the future diversity of the Church. The Church will be as abundant as a fisherman’s haul; full of interesting specimens.

Then there is the swimming! Water symbolizes the forces of chaos and overwhelming. But after Easter, it is different. Peter can take the plunge. The resurrection appearances invite the disciples to take risks and the Church will be advanced by those who can learn to swim, or even try to walk on water. In our resurrection faith, we are invited to take the plunge. Not because we are rash, but because Christ now beckons us to join him in a new life of adventure and hope.

Prayer

We praise you and we bless you, our risen Lord, King of glory,

For at the lakeside you showed concern for the daily needs of your disciples

As you guided them to fill their nets with fish, so guide all who are hungry

Till their hunger is satisfied in you

To you, Lord Jesus, sharing with us the food of faith,

Be honour and glory, now and forever. Amen.

Eighth Station: Jesus Confronts Peter

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.

Reading – John 21:15-19

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.

Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’

Reflection

The questions posed by Jesus help Peter to find reconciliation and embrace his new mission and feed the sheep. Their encounter reminds us that forgiveness is always available, even for the most serious of mistakes we can make. This warm embrace of forgiveness strengthens our resolve to be reconcilers and healers in the spirit of Jesus. Only love can overcome guilt and deception. Only love and forgiveness can make us whole. It is in the resurrection that God gives us the true hope that dares to change the world.

We are called to feed our people, tend our people and love our people – old and young alike, both lambs and sheep – just as we are fed, loved and tended by his hands. For the world is hungry for Christ and so we try to respond by feeding the word with the bread of heaven and with the justice of God.

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?

Will you go where you don’t know, and never be the same?

Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,

Will you let my life be grown in you, and you in me?  

John L. Bell; 1987 WGRG, Iona Community

Prayer

We praise you and bless you, our risen Lord Jesus, King of glory,

For even in the glorious victory of the resurrection

You understood the failure of Peter who denied you.

As you restored him to relationship with you,

Remember all who feel downcast and worthless in this world’s eyes

And give them a sense of purpose and value,

To you, Lord Jesus, loving us despite our denial, be honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Ninth Station: Jesus appears to over 500 at once

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.                                    

Reading – Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 15:3-6

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received; that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.

At this particular time as the whole world is caught up in the coronavirus pandemic, this is a meditation based on a prayer by the late Reverend David Adam, Vicar of Holy Island for 13 years.

Meditation

In the womb of darkness all life is conceived.

The blackness of space gave stars their birth.

From a star’s death was born our earth.

Out of earth’s buried depths was born our mountains and valleys.

This we know, the earth does not belong to us.

The earth is God’s and so are all the people.

This we know, we did not weave the web of life.

The earth is God’s and so is all that breathes on it.

Whatever befalls the earth,

Befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.

The earth is God’s and so we will serve it.

All humankind are one vast family.

This world our home.

We sleep beneath one roof – the starry sky.

We warm ourselves before one hearth – the blazing sun.

Upon one floor of soil we stand, and breathe one air and drink on water

And walk the night beneath one luminescent moon.

The children of one God, brothers and sisters of one blood.

Members in one worldwide family of God.

Prayer

We praise you and we bless you, our risen Lord Jesus, King of glory,

For your resurrection is a revelation to the whole world

As you revealed yourself powerfully to so many,

Reveal yourself now as the hope for our world

To you, Lord Jesus,

Going beyond the limits of our understanding, be honour and glory, now and forever. Amen.

Tenth Station: Jesus commissions the disciples on the mountain

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia        

Reading – Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Reflection

Here we listen to the Great Commission from St Matthew’s Gospel. We are standing at the east end of the Cathedral, near the Shrine of the missionary bishop St Cuthbert and under the Comper tester, the Christ Pantocrator, the universal Lord, to whom all authority is given. We pray for the leaders of nations and the mission of the Church.

‘You did not choose me, but I chose you, and I appointed you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last’. Glory to Christ our risen Lord. Alleluia. John 15:17

Prayer

We praise and we bless you, our risen Lord Jesus, King of Glory,

For you took the risk of passing your mission to frail disciples

As you commissioned them to go into all the world,

So, may all the world come to you, the King of nations

To you, Lord Jesus, with us to the end of the age,

Be honour and glory, now and forever. Amen.

Sing! 

‘Jubilate, everybody; serve the Lord in all your ways and come before his presence singing; enter now his courts with praise. For the Lord our God is gracious, and his mercy everlasting. Jubilate, Jubilate, Jubilate, Deo!  

– Fred Dunn 1977 Thank You Music.

Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

I’m sending this with my love and prayers Reverend Sue Binks: binksharome@btinternet.com

For the next Stations, on the Ascension and Thy Kingdom Come, please press here. Thanks, once more, to Jon Tyson for the great title photo on Unsplash.