With Pentecost weeks away, you still have time to learn several Resurrection stories this Easter season.
Easter’s not over yet! As I explain in a guest post on CatholicMom.com, one way to make the Easter season last is to slowly learn the Resurrection stories by heart, verse by verse.
I’ve Been Learning John 20
Do you ever worry that I make up these great ideas without actually trying them myself? This Easter, I really have been learning John 20, one verse per day, like in Easter by Heart.
The result? I’ve definitely had more thoughts about the Risen Christ then any previous Easter season I can remember.
The Season Is the Reason
On the flip side, the season seems to provide a reason, an extra nudge, to stick with the daily memory work. Learning Easter during Easter has helped me escape a bit further from the flashcard mentality of rushing. It makes sense to stop and think about the Easter story I’m telling. I think, I don’t just recite (at least, sometimes).
Starting John 21
Today, I start John 21. This chapter includes one of my favorite moments in the entire Bible. Peter’s gone back to fishing, as if nothing ever happened, because even though Jesus has come back to life and all, he doesn’t seem to be sticking around much. Then Peter sees Jesus on the shore. He can’t wait for the boat, he swims out to meet him … and God is making breakfast.
Now that it’s been a month, I’m going to take this cumulative method to the next level and try learning two verses a day. The last time I did this with the Bible was way back when I was learning the Gospel of Mark, with a very different memory system. I’m interested to see whether the reviews get unwieldy when I add two verses per day.
You Can Still Learn Easter This Season
If you want to get back into Easter, you can start with either John 20 or 21 right now. You’ll just about finish the chapter by Pentecost. (John 20 will go over a bit, but who cares?)
If you like audio, my new Books by Heart podcast will give you this verses with specially crafted rhythms and pauses, so you have time to repeat what you hear. Let me know what you think.
Happy Easter!
“Make Easter Last all Season: Learn the Resurrection Stories by Heart” on CatholicMom.com.