There have been enough times in my life when I have felt like I am in quicksand and slowly sinking.
I have experienced life as demanding because of factors around me and within me.
When I was young, I thought this was normal and I didn’t look for help. I thought everyone lived like I did.
I gained a new understanding as an adult. I also learnt that there are people around who want to help.
They are ready and willing to offer kindness and support. As I look back, I had glimpses of this as a child, but they were fewer.
Help is harder to access when you have less knowledge and less choice. In the world of my youth, with less technology, help was much harder to access.
I open this way because I have found hope in caring people.
The ones who come alongside and deliberately make a difference. Some of these have been Christian and some not.
As an adult I embraced the Christian faith. I found then and still know that Jesus, revealing God’s love, offers a hope-filled way of living.
In Newcastle Anglican, inspired by Jesus, we have people ready to meet other people in their journey and offer hope.
This happens through our parishes, agencies, and schools. We have people ready to listen and be led by other people as companions.
Walking and talking together, we help each other flourish.
Two of my favourite stories in the New Testament are about the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Mary Magdalene. The events of the days leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday affect them both greatly.
There has been violence, betrayal, torture, and killing.
With Mary it is inconsolable grief. She has been with Jesus as he died and then she goes to his burial place. It looks like grave robbers have struck.
Her grief and pain are palpable. She asks the gardener what has happened.
With the simple use of her name, Jesus shows her that he is risen from the dead. She wants to hug him but cannot. He sends her on an errand in which we can only imagine her running with excitement.
With Peter it is deep shame. He promised that he wouldn’t deny Jesus but does so. He was unable to match his brave words by action. He has been scared.
Now Jesus is risen from the dead.
They’ve been around each other but not had the conversation they need to have. We get to overhear them talking.
Jesus addresses Peter’s strong betrayal.
He restores him to a place of leadership and dignity. Jesus removes Peter’s shame and makes it clear he trusts him.
Christian people seek to embody the character of Jesus in their lives. They also seek to enact his will in the world.
Christians look to the New Testament accounts for guidance. Time and time again they ask: “what would Jesus do”.
When Christians are at their best, they actively pursue a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. They pursue peace and seek to end violence of every kind.
Christians want to see mercy and justice for everyone. Christians are not always at their best so, at times, they contribute to harm rather than good.
Internal church politics and competing worldviews mean there are some significantly differing views. However, all Christians must continue to wrestle with Jesus’ call to being bearers of love and hope through words and action.
As I reflect on the way Jesus offered hope, three things seem to happen – a realistic understanding of the situation, an invitation, and action.
When Jesus spoke with Mary and Peter, he knew what had occurred. We see this many other times in the New Testament. We will never have the holy insight that Jesus had.
Our pathway to understanding is through kind, generous, and curious conversation.
We take time to listen deeply.
We allow the person we are to help us understand what we are seeking.
There then comes an invitation to relationship. Mary and Peter were clear in their desire to listen to Jesus. In our case, it might be professional, pastoral, or personal. We seek agreement or consent. Do we want to take this journey together?
Finally, there are considered actions.
Steps taken to make the situation better over time. Mary went to tell the others what she had seen and heard.
Peter was given a huge leadership role.
In our case, we explore actions that might be meaningful, empowering, and manageable. We don’t impose, rather we explore together. We wonder, what will bring hope and flourishing?
There is hope in Jesus and his life and teaching. There is hope in being a disciple of Jesus who seeks to promote love, justice, mercy, and peace. There is hope in building communities which actively care for one another.
My prayer is that we each take the steps to create hope. I pray that each of us may flourish, inspired by the way of Jesus.
+Peter
