Arise: A 50-Day Journey into the Mystery of the Resurrection
by Laura Bedingfeld
Published by Sophia Institute Press
Also available on the Saintifi app as an audiobook and ebook
A love a good devotional to keep me on track with my spiritual learning and reading. During Lent, I have been enjoying this short and sweet daily devotional centered around praying with the Psalms. I have been on the hunt for something similar for the Easter season, and I found a couple of options which I am thrilled with! One bridges the gap between Lent and Easter and starts 9 days before Easter. I reviewed it here.
This devotional is for all 50 days of Easter. It is a combination of an Easter devotional and Scripture study. I wanted to share it here with you all before Easter in case you are on the hunt for a similar resource! The book is Arise: A 50-Day Journey into the Mystery of the Resurrection by Laura Bedingfeld.
The Format of this Book
The book is separated into 7 parts: one part for each week of Easter, and 1 day for each of the 50 days. Each section has 7 parts, and then there is a final Conclusion to round out the season. There is a handy Biblical Index in the back and a clearly laid out reading plan as well. The readings and meditations progress through scripture, beginning with Genesis through Revelation. Each weekly section ends with discussion/reflection questions.
Each day’s reflection is 2-6 pages long which leaves plenty of time to read the corresponding scripture and meditate on it.
Who is this book for?
The author describes the 4 groups of people she intended this book to be for:
- Individuals who would like to learn and practice Lectio Divina
- Groups to use weekly to study Scripture together. She recommends it for groups preparing for Confirmation at Pentecost.
- Ministers to help them explore the connection of the Resurrection to the Old Testament and for homily, retreat, and conference preparation.
- Educators (parents or catechists). From the introduction:
“Whether parents, catechists, religious education teachers, or OCIA instructors, those entrusted with forming others in the Faith will find Arise a helpful tool. Its thematic structure provides a guide to approaching resurrection faith in a pedagogical way, and the meditations themselves can be used as a springboard for preparing lessons or locating scriptural sources. The book’s theme lends itself in a most obvious way to educators preparing others for Baptism.”
Hope in the Resurrection
The goal of this devotional is to allow the reader to complete a detailed study of the Resurrection. The author also aims to help a reader’s faith and hope in the resurrection increase. The Introduction of the book explains,
“Believing in the Resurrection of the dead is one of the distinctive characteristics of Christianity – without it, vain is our faith and pitiable is our hope (1 Cor. 15:14-19).”
The study begins in the Old Testament, and how we see glimpses of the Resurrection in the Psalms, miracles, and promises made within the first covenants between God and His people. Next, you will study Christ’s teachings on the Resurrection as they appear in the the 4 Gospels. Week 3 involves symbols and parables of Resurrection. The final 4 weeks will take you through many New Testament books to deepen your understanding and hope in the Resurrection.
Suggestions for Using this Book
The daily chapters are meant to be short and digestible for just about anyone. I like that this leaves room for exploring the related Scripture selections at your leisure. Some days you may want to dive deeply into 1 particular chapter or verse, while other days you may want to read more.
Each day, you can set aside time to read the chapter. Perhaps, choose at least one related Scripture reading to meditate on. I think that it would also be fruitful to use a journal for recording thoughts and inspiration. I do wish that there were a bit more instructions about Lectio Divina for individuals. The introduction mentions that the book can be used for this, but then there are no further instructions. I love the discussion questions, but I would actually prefer for them to be at the end of each day rather than at the end of each week.
Nonetheless, this Easter-themed devotional looks wonderful for keeping focus on the Resurrection for all 50 days of Eastertide! The connection between the Old and New Testament is excellent, and I think it will be a great resource to help anyone grow in hope for the Resurrection.
It is also available as an ebook and audiobook on the Saintifi app (try the app free for 30 days).
