The Resurrection is the central mystery of the Christian faith. As St. Paul wrote, if we do not believe in the Resurrection wholeheartedly, then “empty is our preaching; empty, too our faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14).
Your students have heard the details of some of the key incidents that are included in the Easter Gospel stories. Have them work in small groups and try to recreate the details of the key incidents of these accounts.
Hand out a printed resource with the eight headings and Gospel references listed below. Have the students form groups of eight in order to tell the entire story in as much detail as possible. Each person should be responsible for one of the headings. He or she should tell begin telling the story (again, in as much detail as possible). The other students in the group can add details as necessary. Continue in the same format for the eight headings.
Allow about fifteen or twenty minutes of sharing for the eight headings. Then have the group choose two of the headings for further study. Have them look up and read the Gospel passage referenced for those stories. Have them note any of the details they missed in their own sharing.
Easter Headlines
- An Amazing Discovery on Sunrise (Mark 16:1-14)
- An Earthquake, An Angel, and a Guard’s Tale (Matthew 18:1-15)
- Peter, John, and the Holy Shroud (John 20:1-10
- The Mysterious Gardener (John 20:11-16)
- The Third Traveler on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:113-35)
- Can a Ghost Eat (Luke 24:36-49)
- Thomas the Doubter (John 20:19-29)
- Fish Fry on the Shore (John 21:1-14)
This activity is adapted from Time Out: Resources for Teen Retreats (Ave Maria Press, 1998) by Sr. Kieran Sawyer, SSND.