The Third in a number of Reflections written by Diane Smith influenced by the life and work of Julian of Norwich.
From Julian’s Writings
“Our Lord showed to me a spiritual insight of his homely loving. I saw that he is everything that is good and comfortable for us. He is our clothing that for love wraps us, hugs us and, out of tender love, completely encloses us, never to leave us………”
The imagery of garments and clothing is of major importance in the Bible. Its significance can be physical, economic, social, moral or spiritual. At the beginning of Psalm 104 we are reminded, “O Lord my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honour and majesty, wrapped in light as with a garment.” We are instructed in Ephesians 6 verses 10-18 “To put on the Full Armour of God” and in Colossians 3 verses 12-15 “To put on compassion, kindness, humility meekness and patience, and above all to put on love.”
In recent weeks we have read so much concerning the issue and necessity of protective clothing for all those working in the caring professions and indeed other walks of life. We do pray that all staff may be equipped with all that they need to protect them.
Clothing provides us with a wonderful picture language encouraging us to think deeply about the protective nature of Faith. In his life time, Jesus is transfigured with dazing garments, he himself removes an outer garment to wash the disciple’s feet. A woman in the crowd is healed by touching the fringe of his clothing and on the way to the Cross he is stripped. The clothing of Christ expresses something of both his Meekness and Majesty.
The Parable of the Prodigal son’s return home provides us with a powerful image of Gods forgiveness.
Here clothing is symbolic of both healing and restoration. The loving father instructs,
Luke 15 v22…….” bring out a robe- the best one”
As we pray that all might have the protective clothing they need in this crisis. Let us also pray;
That we might be clothed with the full armour of God.
Julian of Norwich, was an English anchorite of the Middle Ages. She wrote the earliest surviving book in the English language to be written by a woman, Revelations of Divine Love.
She lived practically her whole life in the city of Norwich. In 1373, aged thirty and so seriously ill she thought she was on her deathbed, Julian received a series of visions of the Passion of Christ. She recovered from her illness and wrote two versions of her experiences, the earlier one being completed soon after her recovery, and a much longer version, known as the Long Text, being written many years later.
For much of her life, Julian lived in permanent seclusion in her cell, which was attached to St. Julian’s Church, Norwich. Though not canonised she is widely referred to as “Saint”, “Lady” and “Mother”.