I always liked the idea of “Resurrection Eggs,” and the traditional Easter Egg Hunt is fun for the little ones, so I thought I’d combine the two, and give it a little more of a Catholic “twist.” Get a little theology in while we’re having fun! 🙂 Our egg hunt has evolved over the years, from about a dozen story eggs the first year to our current 20. I did lots of research, and kind of came up with my own adaptation of the many, many versions I found. I found the most help here: http://cherishedheartsathome.blogspot.com/2010/02/paschal-mystery-eggs.html. (Thank you, Gae! I definitely like calling them Paschal Mystery Eggs, as there is so much more to the name.)
Last year, in the eggs, I just had small objects symbolizing the events from the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and we talked about what they represented, but this year I decided to include a scripture verse in each egg as well. With the excitement of the Easter treats, my children’s attention spans are pretty limited, but I really want them to hear scripture on a regular basis. This way, they will hear the same verses year after year, and associate those verses with moments in the life of Christ.
We hide lots of eggs, but the Paschal Mystery eggs have numbers on them, so the kids know they are special. After all the eggs have been found, we collect the numbered ones and sit around the table. I open each egg and show the kids the object. First, I let them guess what the object represents. They really get into this, and compete to see who can remember first, and loudest! And this year, I’ll have one of them read the scripture verse on each little slip of paper. The whole process only takes a few extra minutes after all the eggs are found, but it definitely helps keep the focus of the Holy Day.
Without further ado, here is my version of Paschal Mystery Eggs:
1.Three dimes. “Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver Him to you?’ And they gave him thirty pieces of silver.” Mt. 26:14-15
2. A small piece of bread. (Representing the Last Supper, with a particular emphasis on the Institution of the Eucharist) “And He took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.'” Lk. 22:19
3. Lego Chalice “And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'” Mt. 26:27-28
4. A feather. “Jesus said to [Peter], ‘Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.'” Mt. 26:34
5. Brown embroidery floss with knots in it (to look like rope). “When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.” Mt. 27:1-2
6. A small piece of a bar of soap. “So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this righteous man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’ And all the people answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!'” Mt. 27:24-25
7. The last two inches of a black shoelace. (with the plastic end, it looks like a whip) “Then [Pilate] released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered Him to be crucified.” Mt. 26:26
8. Purple fabric and a broken toothpick “thorn.” (Crowning) ” And they clothed Him in a purple cloak, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on Him. And they began to salute Him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they struck His head with a reed, and spat upon Him, and they knelt down in homage to Him.” Mk. 15:17-19
9. Cross. “So they took Jesus, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha.” Jn. 19:17
10. Nail. “And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.'” Lk. 23:33-34
11. Dice. “So they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.’ This was to fulfil the scripture, ‘They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.'” Jn. 19:24
12. Medal of the Blessed Mother. “When Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing near, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” Jn. 19:26-27
13. Small piece of a sponge. “After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), ‘I thirst.’ … so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to His mouth.” Jn. 19:28-29
14. Gravel. “And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, … and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; … . When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!'” Mt. 27:50-51,54
15. Lego Spear. “…[W]hen they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.” Jn. 19:33-34
16. White fabric. “And Joseph [of Arimathea] took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock.” Mt. 27:59-60a
17. Stone. “And [Joseph of Arimathea] rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed.” Mt. 27:60b
18. Bayleaf, clove. “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, brought spices, so that they might go and anoint Him.” Mk. 16:1
19. Empty egg. “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; … the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.'” Lk. 24:2-5
20.Cotton ball. “And when He had said this, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9
8 Little Arrows in my Quiver 