Introduction

During Lent and on Good Friday, we prayed the Stations of the Cross. Through the Stations of the Cross, we remembered Jesus’ path to Calvary, and we thought about how he suffered and died on the cross for us. 

Now it is Easter. We celebrate the rising of Jesus from the dead. The Bible tells us that after Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to His Apostles and to other people. He has truly risen! 

We now continue from where the Stations of the Cross left off, and we pray The Way of Light. We think about the Resurrection and what happened after Jesus rose from the dead.

Opening Prayer:

God made you and God made me,

He made the world for us to see.

God loves you and long ago,

He sent his Son to tell us so.

Jesus showed us many things,

To love and share and dance and sing.

To learn and pray, to help and care,

He promised he’d always be there.

He died but then came back to life,

Let’s celebrate for he’s alive! 

We thank you, Lord, for your love,

Keep us safe ‘til we’re in heaven above.   Amen.

Song:

He is Lord, He is Lord, 

He is risen from the dead 

And he is Lord. 

Every knee shall bow, 

Every tongue confess 

That Jesus Christ is Lord. 

He is King, he is King,

 He now reigns within my heart,

Yes, He is King;

 And the time shall come

When the world shall sing,

 That Jesus Christ is King.

He is love, he is love,

 He has shown us by his life

That he is love;

Come, and let us sing

 with one voice of joy

 That Jesus Christ is love.

You are Lord, You are Lord, 

You have risen from the dead 

And You are Lord. 

Every knee shall bow, 

Every tongue confess 

That You are Christ our Lord.

He is life, he is life;

Yes, he died and rose again;

Yes, he is life;

 And he wants us all 

to believe it’s true

that Jesus Christ is life.

 You are Lord, You are Lord, 

You have risen from the dead 

And You are Lord. 

Every knee shall bow, 

Every tongue confess 

That You, O Christ, are Lord.

First Meditation: Jesus rises from the dead.

Scripture: Matthew 28:5-6

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. 

Prayer:

Risen Lord, your Resurrection is truly good news. We thank you for your victory over death. Amen. 

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

Through the darkest night and brightest day.

Be at my side, oh Lord,

Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Second Meditation: The women find Jesus’ tomb empty.

Scripture: Matthew 28:8

So, the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Prayer:

Risen Lord, I believe that you have risen from the dead. Amen.

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

 Through the darkest night and brightest day.

 Be at my side, oh Lord,

 Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Third Meditation: The Risen Lord appears to Mary Magdalene

Scripture: John 20:16, 18

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!”

Prayer:

Risen Lord, help me to be like Mary Magdalene and to spread the good news that you have risen from the dead. Amen.

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

 Through the darkest night and brightest day.

 Be at my side, oh Lord,

 Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Fourth Meditation: The Risen Lord appears on the road to Emmaus

Scripture: Luke 24:13, 15-16

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

Prayer:

Risen Lord, help me to see that you are present, and alive and active in my life today. Amen.

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

 Through the darkest night and brightest day.

 Be at my side, oh Lord,

 Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Fifth Meditation: They recognised the Lord at the breaking of the bread

Scripture: Luke 24: 29-31

They urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So, he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

Prayer:

Risen Lord, I believe that you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

 Through the darkest night and brightest day.

 Be at my side, oh Lord,

 Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Sixth Meditation: The Risen Lord appears in Jerusalem

Scripture: Luke 24:36

Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Prayer:

Risen Lord, grant us the gift of your peace, peace in our hearts, peace in our families, and peace in the world. Amen.

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

 Through the darkest night and brightest day.

 Be at my side, oh Lord,

 Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Seventh Meditation: The Risen Lord gives the disciples power to forgive

Scripture: John 20: 22-23

Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Prayer:

Risen Lord, may the Holy Spirit help me to forgive others as you forgive me. Amen.

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

 Through the darkest night and brightest day.

 Be at my side, oh Lord,

 Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Eighth Meditation: Jesus strengthens the faith of Thomas

Scripture: John 20: 27-28

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Prayer:

Risen Lord, increase my faith; help me not to doubt that you are my Lord and my God. Amen.

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

 Through the darkest night and brightest day.

 Be at my side, oh Lord,

 Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Ninth Meditation: The Risen Lord meets his disciples on the Sea of Tiberius

Scripture: John 21:1, 7

Afterward, Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberius. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

Prayer:

Risen Lord, I pray for those who do not believe in you. Give them the gift of faith that they may believe that you are the Lord. Amen.

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

 Through the darkest night and brightest day.

 Be at my side, oh Lord,

 Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Tenth meditation: Jesus commissions Peter to take care of his flock, the Church

Scripture: John 21:15

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Prayer:

Risen Lord, we pray for Pope Francis; may he guide the Church in unity and truth. Amen.

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

 Through the darkest night and brightest day.

 Be at my side, oh Lord,

 Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Eleventh Meditation: Jesus sends his disciples into the whole world

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of time.”

Prayer:

Risen Lord, we pray that we may be committed Christians, and spread the Gospel everywhere. Amen. 

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

 Through the darkest night and brightest day.

 Be at my side, oh Lord,

 Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Twelfth Meditation: Jesus ascends into heaven

Scripture: Acts 1:9, 11

Jesus was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.

Prayer:

Risen Lord, help me to live a good life here on earth so that I may enjoy eternal life with you in heaven. Amen.

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

 Through the darkest night and brightest day.

 Be at my side, oh Lord,

 Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Thirteenth Meditation: The disciples wait in the Upper Room with Mary

Scripture: Acts 1:13-14

When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Prayer:

Risen Lord, listen to the intercession of Mary as she prays for us. Amen.

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

 Through the darkest night and brightest day.

 Be at my side, oh Lord,

 Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Fourteenth Meditation: The Holy Spirit descends on the disciples in the form of tongues of fire

Scripture: Acts 2:1-4

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill us with the fire of your love. Amen.

Song:

Walk with me, oh my Lord,

 Through the darkest night and brightest day.

 Be at my side, oh Lord,

 Hold my hand and guide me on my way.    (X2)

Alleluia means “Praise the Lord!” 

We praise the Lord, who died and rose from the dead for us. Alleluia, Alleluia.

In praise and thanksgiving, let us sing our final hymn.

Song:

Sing Alleluia to the Lord.

Sing Alleluia to the Lord.

Sing Alleluia,

Sing Alleluia.

Sing Alleluia to the Lord.

Come, Risen Jesus, walk with us.

Come, Risen Jesus, walk with us.

Come, Risen Jesus.

Come, Risen Jesus.

Come, Risen Jesus, walk with us.

Sing Alleluia to the Lord.

Sing Alleluia to the Lord.

Sing Alleluia,

Sing Alleluia.

Sing Alleluia to the Lord.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, you are good and wise I will praise you when I rise.
Jesus, hear this prayer I send, Bless my family and my friends.
Jesus, help my eyes to see, All the good you send to me.
Jesus, help my ears to hear, Calls for help from far and near.
Jesus, help my feet to go, In the way that You will show.
Jesus, help my hands to do, All things loving, kind, and true.
Jesus, guard me through this day, In all I do and all I say.

Amen.