‘The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’’ Now I have told you.’ - Matthew 28:5-7
The resurrection of Jesus simplifies everything. Life is so complex. There are so, so many memories, so many events, so many possibilities. There are people to pay attention to, events to reflect on, choices to ponder. And there is the ongoing question of priorities: who to respond to first, what to consider first, where to go first…. But here, before the rolled-away stone, a simple centre from which hope radiates, all is very simple. I sense the deep truth of this simplicity. Jesus is risen. All has become one.
No matter the religion or denomination in which we are raised, our spirituality still comes through the first filter of our own life experience. We must begin to be honest about this instead of pretending that any of us are formed exclusively by scriptures or our churches or religious traditions. There is no such thing as an entirely unbiased position. The best we can do is own and be honest about our own filters. God allows and invites us to trust our own experience.
I am just like you. My immediate response to most situations is with reactions of attachment, defensiveness, judgment, control, and analysis. I am better at calculating than contemplating. Let’s admit that most of us start there. The false self seems to have the “first gaze” at almost everything.
In celebration of Resthaven’s 90th anniversary, and coinciding with South Australia’s History Festival (1-31 May), Resthaven has today, 7 May 2025, launched its new ‘living history’ website: Resthaven: A History of Caring.
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