Welcome to this online retreat. 

As we continue on the Stations of the Resurrection to arrive in Galilee, where the Lord said he would go ahead to meet the Apostles.  

But why return to Galilee? And what was he going to teach Peter and the Disciples there?

Thank you for joining us on this Easter journey.

Fr Brendan

We are used to following the Stations of the Cross, the Via Crucis, but in more recent years there have developed another set of Stations to supplement and complete them - the Stations of the Resurrection, the Via Lucis. 

There is no definitive list, but this is close to the typical one. 

Via Lucis: Stations of the Resurrection

1. Jesus is raised from the dead (Matthew 28:1-10)

 2. The Discovery of the Empty Tomb (John 20:1-10)

 3. Mary Magdalene meets the risen Christ (John 20:11-18)

 4. The Risen Lord Appears on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-27)

 5. Christ is Known at the Breaking of Bread (Luke 24:28-35)

 6. The Risen Lord Appears to His Disciples in Jerusalem (Luke 24:36-43)

 7. The Risen Lord Gives the Disciples the Power to Forgive Sins (John 20:19-23)

 8. The Risen Lord Strengthens the Faith of Thomas (John 20:24-29)

 9. The Risen Lord Appears by the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-14)

 10. The Questions to Peter (Primacy of Peter) (John 21:15-17, 19b)

 11. The Great Commission on the Mountain (Matthew 28:16-20)

12. The Ascension of Christ (Acts 1:6-12a)

13.  Mary and the Disciples wait in Prayer (Acts 1:12-14)

14. The Holy Spirit Descends at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13)

To read more of its history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stations_of_the_Resurrection

“I am amazed that, after rising from the dead, Jesus enquires if his friends have anything to eat and then proceeds to make breakfast for them. If I had loved perfectly and practised steadfast nonviolence only to be betrayed, denied, abandoned, condemned, tortured, and executed, I would not want to return, much less make breakfast for anyone. I might be angry, judgemental, resentful, and bitter. But Jesus shows none of that is the God of peace, the God of the life, the God of infinite compassion, he is without any trace of anger, judgement, resentment, or bitterness. He is way beyond such worldly failings. The risen Jesus is not some mean, unreachable divinity. Rather, in this intimate human scene, we see a gentle, caring friend.”

John Dear, The Questions of Jesus, p.285

ST MARK

Appearance to the Women

"But you must go and tell the disciples and Peter, 'He is going before you to Galilee; it is there you will see him, just has he told you.'" Mk 16: 7

ST JOHN

The appearance on the shore of Tiberias 

21- 1 Later on, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples. It was on the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing." They replied, "We'll come with you." They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night. 

4 It was light by now and there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realized that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus called out, "Have you caught anything, friends?" And when they answered, "No," 6 he said, "Throw the net out to starboard and you will find something." O they dropped the net, and there were so many fish that they could not haul it in. 7 The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord," Simon Peter, who had practically nothing on, wrapped his cloak around him and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net and the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land. 

9 As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was bread there, and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. 10 Jesus said, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." 11 Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, "Who are you?"; they knew quite well it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. 14 This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead. 

Questions to Peter

15 After the meal Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?" He answered, "Yes Lord, you know I love you." Jesus said to him. "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He replied, "Yes, Lord you know I love you." Jesus said to him. "Look after my sheep." 17 Then he said to him a third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was upset that he asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" And said, "Lord, you know everything; you know I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.

18 "I tell you solemnly, 

when you are young 

you put on your own belt 

and walked where you liked; 

but when you grow old 

you will stretch out your hands, 

and somebody else will put a belt around you 

and take you where you would rather not go." 

19 In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, "Follow me." 

John August Swanson writes in his notes: 

“Peter and his friends have been fishing all night; they are tired and have not caught any fish. Someone on the beach calls out: “Put down your nets one more time. Don’t give up yet.” They put down their nets and they catch so many fish that the nets are almost breaking! The sunlight reflects on the clouds, the sail, and the faces of the fishermen. Over my life as an artist, I have created variations of this gospel. The story helps me to accept struggles and to appreciate the casting of my own “net” into the waves, and the surprise of experiencing the fruit and abundance that are there. We are reminded, too, of the inexhaustible resources within each of us.“

“This scene is key for me. I see this story as a symbol of not giving up. Even though you don’t want to do it, you throw the net into the lake and catch riches and blessings.”

https://www.johnaugustswanson.com