Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 Search Archive Print This Article Morning has broken Sunday, April 15, 2001 John 20:1-9 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw ... The story is so familiar, so sweet, so fine. Of course the birds are singing, of course the flowers are blooming, of course the sun will soon be shining warm into the park where Jesus was buried. Everything is beautiful. Mary Magdalene moved from the darkness into the light that morning. Her grief was suspended, inexplicably, by the miracle of Jesus alive again. She saw him, she knew him, she was made new again. Once again and more than ever, the presence of Jesus cleared her vision and filled her with life. Mary had only one part in this. She went to the tomb that morning. She showed up. She opened her eyes and looked at what there was to see. God did the rest. He gave her something to look at! Elizabeth Anne-Stewart writes in her devotion for Easter Sunday, "Before we can make the transition from grief to joy, we, too, must open our eyes; then, perhaps, we will not only catch a glimpse of the Risen Lord but also of our risen selves." And so we praise you, Lord, and worship you. We thank you for new life in and through and all around us. Open our eyes wide. "; Add      Edit    Delete