Just a Word before we go...Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time...October 31, 2021
In today’s gospel we hear Jesus declare the two greatest commandments - to love God with our whole being and our neighbor as ourselves. Doing both will bring us near to the kingdom of God. Great! I just have two questions: What is love? And who exactly is my neighbor?
In considering those questions, two extraordinary women came to mind: St. Therese Lisieux, “The Little Flower,” from the 19th century, and Lady Julian of Norwich, from the 15th century. St. Therese is the more familiar to us, sending roses from heaven after her untimely death at the age of 24. Although her life was short, St. Therese employed her “little way” of living, by
doing all things, especially small things, with great love. She was a cloistered nun who never travelled, but she embodied the two great commandments with her ever-expanding sense of love for all humanity. Her most famous quotes are remembered as: “ Do all that you do with love;” “Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.” “True charity consists in bearing all our neighbour’s defects – not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their smallest virtues.” “Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” Therese understood that love of God is love of neighbor, and love of neighbor is love of God.
Julian of Norwich was an anchoress, attached to the church of St. Julian in Norwich, England. She was an educated woman (there was a Benedictine cathedral in Norwich with one of the largest and best libraries in England, although as a woman one wonders how she was able to gain access to that library!). Julian was the first woman to write a book in England. “Revelations of Divine Love” showcased her broad and sophisticated knowledge of theological traditions, as well as her search for meaning. Her book recalled the visions she experienced while recovering from a serious illness, during which visions from God revealed the meaning behind the life and suffering of Jesus, and God’s purpose in creating humanity.
Julian lived in a time of great turmoil—the Inquisition, the 100 Years’ War, the Black Death, and peasant insurrections. Julian was a prophet who was committed to offering the world around her, one that was filled with reasons for despair, a word of hope, the good news of a loving, redeeming Lord whose word was one of love and goodness. She sought to offer the assurance of the God who would advocate for the suffering, a comforter who could bring peace to troubled hearts. She sought to replace the image of a punishing God with that of a motherly, courteous God, one who was approachable and accessible through the Spirit. One of Julian’s most important messages is to live in joy, to take delight in life. Her most famous quote from God is “All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” In the final chapter of her book, her question about the meaning of her visions is answered: “Do you wish to know your Lord’s meaning in this thing? Know it well, love was his meaning. Who revealed it to you? Love. What did he reveal to you? Love. Why does he reveal it to you? For love. Remain in this and you will know more of the same.” Julian wanted her readers to rely on the steadfast rock that God is, full of tender committed love.
As we continue on this magical mystery tour we call life, our Gospel, with the help of some wisdom from Therese and Julian, might help us come to see that the Beatles had it right all along...All we need is love!
