The Torn Curtain
“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split.” — Matthew 27:51
In recent days, we have mourned the crucifixion of Jesus and celebrated His resurrection. But how does that reality shape the days and weeks that follow?
In Soul Keeping, John Ortberg writes, “I am unable to occupy the present moment.” Those words struck me deeply. While I know I can connect with God during dedicated time—on the Sabbath or walking in creation—I still struggle to stay connected to Him hour by hour, minute by minute throughout the day.
Most days, my time with God feels like bookends: I meet with Him at the beginning and the end, but not so much in the middle.
I’ve tried setting alarms on my phone and placing sticky notes on my computer as reminders to pray, pause, and reconnect. But in my never-ending quest to get more done (at my job at a church, no less!), I often ignore the sticky notes, silence the alarms, and keep plowing ahead.
Matthew tells us that at the moment of Jesus’s death, the curtain in the temple was torn in two. In that moment, we were given full and direct access to the presence of God.
Let that sink in.
We no longer need a high priest to intercede for us in the Holy of Holies. God’s presence is available to us—all the time. As C.S. Lewis writes, “We may ignore, but we can never evade, the presence of God.”
I don’t want to ignore His presence. I want to live with God each hour, each moment.
Two people who pursued this kind of moment-by-moment awareness of God were Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century monk, and Frank Laubach, a missionary to the Philippines in the 1930s. In The Practice of the Presence of God and Letters by a Modern Mystic, they share both their successes and their struggles—offering a vision of a life continually connected to God.
We, too, can grow in awareness of His presence by cultivating an ongoing conversation with Him throughout the day. As we move between emails, meetings, and tasks, we can pause and pray:
“Lord, I am here. What would You have me say?”
“What should I do next?”
When someone interrupts our day, we can whisper, “God, help me be fully present to this person.”
Each hour—each moment—can hold a glimpse of heaven when we are aware of His presence, because the curtain has been torn in two.
For Reflection
How does God get your attention?
What practical rhythms could help you pause and remember His presence throughout your day?
Prayer
Dear Lord,
We celebrate Your resurrection and the moment the curtain was torn in two. Thank You for the gift of direct access to Your presence. Forgive us—we are a distracted people. Help us remember that Your peace and presence are available at all times. Teach us to turn to You throughout our day—for comfort, guidance, and wisdom. Amen.
P.S. This photo, taken by the Maddens in 2019, is of the Garden Tomb—believed by many to be the site of Jesus’s burial and resurrection, just outside the walls of Jerusalem.