A Morning Like No Other

In the depths of sorrow, Mary Magdalene went to Jesus' tomb seeking comfort, peace, or simply to be near her Lord. Her search was rewarded.

The Spoken Version

Hear the poem On That Morning read by the author.

The Scripture

John 20:1-18
New Revised Standard Version

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed 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.”

Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.

Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.

They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).

Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' ”

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Photo of a flower

On that Morning by Deborah Beach Giordano

In the morning half light
the earth damp and cool
gray mist rising
like smoke from the altar
obscuring
and revealing;

In the morning half light
the tomb dark and cold
gray mist rising
like seraphim
shimmering

and a stone
rolled away;

In the morning half light
the shroud cast aside
the cloth soft and fragrant
like a kiss
remembered

and a heart
filled with hope;

and fear;

In the morning half light
a garden
blooming
like the first
beginning;

bright
and sweet
like angel voices;

In the garden
weeping
bleating
like a lost sheep seeking
her shepherd;

In the garden
birdsongs lifted up
like the sun
at its rising;

sung as if
for you alone;

In the garden
a gardener
a care-taker
taking care of the earth
in miniature;

and calling
your name

a call
only you can hear;

In the garden
there is light
and warmth,
beauty and delight

for the Son
has risen.

He is risen indeed.

Hallelujah

Deborah  ✝

Suggested Spiritual Exercise

Rejoice!

Resurrection Morning