The Morning the Stone Was Gone

Easter begins quietly.

In today’s Gospel lesson, John tells us that Mary Magdalene came to the tomb while it was still dark. The city had barely begun to stir. No one expected anything unusual to happen. As far as anyone knew, the story of Jesus had already ended.

The cross had done its work.
The burial was complete.
The stone had been rolled into place.

And stones, once set, usually mean that nothing more will happen there.

There is an old legend told in Middle Eastern wisdom traditions about two travelers making their way along a long road.

At one point during the journey the two men argued, and in anger one struck the other. The man who had been hurt knelt beside the path and wrote in the dust: “Today my friend hurt me.”

They continued walking.

Later that same day they came to a river crossing. As they waded…