Revelations of Divine Love

Meditation on Revelations of Divine Love of Julian of Norwich (1985 - 1988) by Alan Oldfield at St Gabriel's Conference Centre Ditchingham, Wednesday 16th September 2009

We enter
the painting
on the right
in shadow;
the shadow of
Mother Julian
on the wall
of her cell.
Constraining
rectangles
frame her
for us,
standing at
her reading desk
looking out
into her field
of vision.
Red and
white tiles
circumscribe
her cell-space,
as skyblue
walls
suggest
the infinite
breadth
of her visions.
One
painted panel
contains
her cell,
a further
three,
her visions.
16 screens
correspond
to 16
showings
set
side-by-side
like
theatre sets;
God's purposes
played out
on the stage
of history.
A tall,
thin
white
candle
levitates above
the tiled floor
illuminating
Julian's cell;
a 2D image
at its apex
becoming 3D
at its base.
The first of
several
optical
illusions;
what we
think
we see
never being
all
we see.
Julian looks
back
to her 16
showings
and we
follow
her gaze
to be
taken
back
to the
cross.
Sombre shades
and tones
conceal
a crown
of thorns,
an empty
cross
and barren
land.
Suffering
indicated
through
absence and
the shadow
of death.
Beyond
the cross,
the resurrected
Christ;
his winding
cloths
now worn
around
his waist,
spilling
before him
like the train
of a bride
rides behind.
A red band
rings him,
a cross-
shaped scar
upon his
breast,
head bowed,
palms held
to bless
those ministering
and receiving
at the
altar
below.
Behind
his head
the stage-set
of time
opens
revealing
'three heavens'
of infinite
eternity.
Beyond
him still
the vision of
the hazelnut
painted
planet-like
in a galaxies'
swirl;
planet or nut,
mass or pinprick,
all
will be well
and
all manner
of thing
be well -
the resurrection
initiates it!
So, finally,
the cross
wrapped
in the winding
sheets
of the grave
waiting
for release,
the sheets
becoming
the waved
flag of
vistory
at the return
when
the resurrection
of all
restores all
to wellness
and
the vision of
the hazelnut
come
to pass.
For now,
vision
extends beyond
the painting,
beyond the
showings,
beyond ...
where there
is shadow,
the shadow
of God,
revealing
the limits
of all our
imaging.
God is
beyond
the partial
and imcomplete
images
we construct.
The shadow
is God
waiting
in the wings
for the
moment of
reunion
when
we shall see
and know
fully
even
as we are
fully
seen
and known.

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