I’m in the middle of re-reading Carol Lee Flinders’ excellent Enduring Grace, seven chapter-length biographies of Christian women (mostly) medieval mystics. Today I found this quote by Julian of Norwich, in which she tried to make sense of a vision she had as a young woman.

It seemed appropriate to share both in light of all the suffering over here and the fact that we Jews are about to enter into the calendar’s Holy of Holies, a time of highly intense connection with the One who is ultimate connection. As we beat our breasts, beg for forgiveness, fall to our knees and fervently try to get our prayers into the Gates of Heaven before they close, may we remember Julian’s words:

And from the time that it was revealed, I desired many times to know in what was our Lord’s meaning. And fifteen years after and more… it was said, What, do you wish to know your Lord’s meaning in this thing? Know it well, love was His meaning. Who reveals 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. But you will never know different, without end.