A Rosary for Passion Sunday: on death, grief, faith, and the promise of new life

The second Sunday before Easter is celebrated in the Anglican tradition as Passion Sunday- it marks the beginning of Passiontide, where we reflect on the themes of the death and resurrection of Christ. The Passion Narrative recounts the dramatic final days of Christ's days on earth, and encourages Christians to engage on the themes of redemption and Christ's sacrifice. 

Our readings at St Mary's this morning were: Ezekiel 37 verses 1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8 6-11, and John's Gospel Chapter 1, verses 1-45 

Ezekiel is the well-known "valley of the dry bones" chapter, focusing on restoration through God’s Spirit: what seems utterly dead can be brought back to life. The psalm waiting in trust- being like watchmen waiting for the morning. In Romans, Paul reminds us that the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now dwells in believers: the resurrection is not only in the future, but already at work in us now. 

Finally onto John's gospel- the raising of Lazarus. We move from the very human grief shown by the weeping Jesus, to the demonstration of His power over death- the powerful and literal demonstration, in the raising of Lazarus, of "I am the resurrection and the life.” 

The rosary reflects these themes. 

A Rosary for Passion Sunday: on death, grief, faith, and the promise of new life 

The Cross

O God, whose Son is the resurrection and the life, 

as we enter the shadow of his Passion, 

breathe your Spirit into our dryness, 

and call us from death into life. 

Amen. 

The Invitatory Bead 

Lord Jesus Christ, 

you stand with us in our grief, 

you call us by name from the tomb, 

and you lead us into life eternal. 

Draw us close to you. 

Amen. 

The Cruciform Beads (repeat on each of the four) 

Out of the depths I cry to you, 

O Lord; hear my voice and redeem my life. 

Week Beads Set 1- Theme: Ezekiel 37 (Dry Bones: Restoration) 

Lord God, 

you know the places in us that are dry and lifeless. 

Where hope has withered, breathe again. 

Where we feel cut off, gather us together. 

Put your Spirit within us, and we shall live. 

Restore us, O Lord, and make us whole. 

Week Beads Set 2- Theme:  Psalm 130 (The Depths: Waiting and Hope) 

Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord. 

In our sin, in our sorrow, in our waiting—hear us. 

With you there is mercy, and with you is redemption. 

Teach us to wait for you more than watchmen for the morning. 

Let your steadfast love lift us into hope. 

Week Beads Set 3 - Theme:  Romans 8 (The Spirit: Life Within Us) 

Holy Spirit, giver of life, 

turn our hearts from death to life and peace. 

Dwell within us and renew us.

As you raised Jesus from the dead, 

raise us even now into your life. 

Set our minds on you, O God, 

and make us alive in Christ. 

Week Beads Set 4 - Theme:  John 11 (Lazarus: Resurrection and Compassion) 

Lord Jesus, resurrection and life, 

you wept at Lazarus' tomb and shared our sorrow. 

Call us by name from all that binds us. 

Roll away the stone of fear and despair. 

Lead us out into the light of life. 

That we may believe, and live, and follow you. 

Closing Prayer (Back at the Invitational Bead) 

Lord Jesus Christ, 

as you walked toward the cross, 

you carried the sorrow of the world 

and opened the way to life. 

Stay with us in our waiting, 

strengthen us in our weakness, 

and bring us, with all your people, 

from death to life eternal. 

Amen.

Final Blessing (Back at the Cross) 

May the God who breathes life into dry bones 

fill us with his Spirit; 

May Christ, who wept at Lazarus' tomb, 

strengthen us in every sorrow; 

And may the Holy Spirit, 

who raised Jesus from the dead, 

bring us into life and peace; 

And may the blessing of God Almighty, 

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 

be among us and remain with us always. 

Amen.