Pat Gohn

The [First] Twelve Days of Easter
By Pat Gohn

Easter is a 50-Day Celebration in the Catholic Church. Here’s a little ditty to get us started on the first twelve days! Everybody sing along!

The [First] 12 Days of Easter
(Sung to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”)
(Feel free to build up your own Bible knowledge by adding your own verses for the remaining 38 days!)

On the first day of Easter my Bible said to me (2 Peter 3: 9.14-15, 18) [1]:
Now we have eternity!

On the second day of Easter, my Bible said to me (Rev 19:6-7) [2]:
Hallelujah!
For now we have eternity!

On the third day of Easter, my Bible said to me (Luke 24: 1-7; 1 Peter 1:3) [3]:
Jesus Lives!
Hallelujah!
For now we have eternity!

On the fourth day of Easter, my Bible said to me (Jn 17:1-3; Mk 16:19) [4]:
Heaven’s our gift!
Jesus Lives!
Hallelujah!
For now we have eternity!

On the fifth day of Easter, my Bible said to me (Phil. 2: 9-11; Rom. 10:9-10) [5]:
JESUS IS LORD!
Heaven’s our gift!
Jesus Lives!
Hallelujah!
For now we have eternity!

On the sixth day of Easter, my Bible said to me (Rev. 4: 9-11; Eph. 5: 18b-20, Ps. 7:17; Ps. 30:4. Ps. 95:1; Ps. 96:1-2) [6]:

Christians are singing:

JESUS IS LORD!
Heaven’s our gift!
Jesus Lives!
Hallelujah!
For now we have eternity!

On the seventh day of Easter, my Bible said to me (1 Cor. 15: 53-57) [7]:

O Death, where is your sting-ing?

Christians are singing:

JESUS IS LORD!
Heaven’s our gift!
Jesus Lives!
Hallelujah!
For now we have eternity!

On the eighth day of Easter, my Bible said to me (Jn 20: 1-8) [8]:

The tomb is empty!

O Death, where is your sting-ing?

Christians are singing:

JESUS IS LORD!
Heaven’s our gift!
Jesus Lives!
Hallelujah!
For now we have eternity!

On the ninth day of Easter, my Bible said to me (Rev. 4: 9, 12.) [9]:

The devil was lying

The tomb is empty!

O Death, where is your sting-ing?

Christians are singing

JESUS IS LORD!
Heaven’s our gift!
Jesus Lives!
Hallelujah!
For now we have eternity!

On the tenth day of Easter, my Bible said to me (Matthew 28: 1-10; Lk 12:32.) [10]:

Fear is now useless

The devil was lying

The tomb is empty!

O Death, where is your sting-ing?

Christians are singing:

JESUS IS LORD!
Heaven’s our gift!
Jesus Lives!
Hallelujah!
For now we have eternity!

On the eleventh day of Easter, my Bible said to me (Gal. 6:14) [11]:

The Cross is our boasting!

Fear is now useless!

The devil was lying!

The tomb is empty!

O Death, where is your sting-ing?

Christians are singing:

JESUS IS LORD!
Heaven’s our gift!
Jesus Lives!
Hallelujah!
For now we have eternity!

On the twelfth day of Easter, my Bible said to me (Phil. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16-18.) [12]:

Rejoice in the good news!

The Cross is our boasting!

Fear is now useless!

The devil was lying!

The tomb is empty!

O Death, where is your sting-ing?

Christians are singing:

JESUS IS LORD!
Heaven’s our gift!
Jesus Lives!
Hallelujah!
For now we have eternity!

©2008 Patricia W. Gohn

Footnotes (all RSV-CE):

[1] 2 Peter 3: 9, 14-15a, 18 : The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance… Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace… And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation… But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

[2] Revelation. 19: 6-7: Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready.

[3] Luke 24: 1-7: But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise."

1 Peter 1: 3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

[4] John 17: 1-3:  When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

Mark 16:19: So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

[5] Philippians 2:9-11: Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

Romans 10: 9-10: because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.

[6] Revelation 4: 9-11: And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, "Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they existed and were created."

Ephesians 5: 18b-20: Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

Psalm 7:17: I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

Psalm 30: 4: Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.

Psalm 95: 1: O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

Psalm 96: 1-2 : O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!  Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.

[7] 1 Corinthians 15: 53-57: For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory?
O death, where is thy sting?"  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[8] John 20: 1-8: Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.  So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."  Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.

[9] Revelation 12: 9; 12: And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world -- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him… Rejoice then, O heaven and you that dwell therein! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!

[10] Matthew 28: 1-10: Now after the sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Mag'dalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you." So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Hail!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

Luke 12:32: [Jesus said:] "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

[11] Galatians 6:14: May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.

[12] Philippians 4: 4: Rejoice in the Lord, always; again will I say, Rejoice!

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

 

©2008 Patricia W. Gohn

CatholicMom.com Recommends: Visit Pat’s blog “Write in Between” Additional Columns by Pat Gohn: On Deliberate Detachment and Intentional Attachment Clarity at 4am The Sound of Snow The Catholic Conscience as Moral Compass:  Media Discernment for Families The Molder of Saints Countdown to Launch Live the Gift: Self-donation is Vocation God’s Origin Love Story: In The Beginning Body Language: What the Body Reveals Theology of the Body, Part II Coming Attraction: Theology of the Body