In the Middle Ages there were a number of people who stayed in cities, but also cut themselves off from the world. Unlike hermits, they took a vow to stay in one place - and had themselves walled into a small cell attached to a church.
An interesting historical note: they went into their cell prior to the opening being walled in with a ceremony very like a funeral - so they were "buried" in their cell and, for the rest of their lives, received food through a small hole (and send out waste products the same way!) and spent their days in prayer and contemplation. Not a way of life that appeals to us today!
One of these really committed Christians was a woman known now only by the name of her patron: Julian of Norwich. She wrote ...
In my folly, before this time I often wondered why, by the great foreseeing wisdom of God, the onset of sin was not prevented: for then, I thought, all should have been well ... But Jesus, who in this vision informed me of all that is needed by me, answered with these words and said: ‘It was necessary that there should be sin; but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.'
Many modern people (including myself) find this wisdom
very helpful. When things go wrong in our lives, when the actions of other people cause hurt
and distress, when misguided people do stupid things (and sometimes really
stupid things - just watch the news tonight), I can say with Julian of Norwich
...
It was necessary that there should be sin; but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.
Just a short reflection this week - but hopefully
something helpful! God bless.
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