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Morning Devotion for the Season of Easter

May 8, 2023

Julian of Norwich

The Invitatory

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Reading: Psalm 27:1-9

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom then shall I fear? *

the Lord is the strength of my life;

of whom then shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *

it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who

stumbled and fell.

3 Though an army should encamp against me, *

yet my heart shall not be afraid;

4 And though war should rise up against me, *

yet will I put my trust in him.

5 One thing have I asked of the Lord;

one thing I seek; *

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life;

6 To behold the fair beauty of the Lord *

and to seek him in his temple.

7 For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter; *

he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling

and set me high upon a rock.

8 Even now he lifts up my head *

above my enemies round about me.

9 Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation

with sounds of great gladness; *

I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones

Today the Church remembers Julian of Norwich, a contemplative. In her near death experience she had a series of visions that led her to contemplate Christ’s passion. From them she gained a full measure of peace and joy. For the remainder of her life she was engaged in prayer and contemplation of these visions, which culminated in a book, Revelations of Divine Love, a tender meditation on God’s eternal and all-embracing love, as expressed in the Passion of Christ.

One of the brightest jewels in the sky is the sun. Now hear, “The Lord is my light.” Consider that in ancient times there were two kinds of light: the sun and the lamp. Today we have many more sources of light. but think how in these past several days of clouds and gloom we have deeply missed the sun. The sun: so brilliant, one is unable to stare at it and, like God, the sun gives light, warmth, life, and highlights beauty. God’s most primal gift to us, is light. “God said, ‘Let there be light’.” John echoes, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

We’re not much afraid of the light, but we do fear the dark — and many other things. The antidote to fear in our culture currently is security, locks, guns. But in God’s kingdom, the antidote for fear is God.

We ask a great many things of God, of ourselves, of others, and of life. To miss out on the one good thing, in the face of everything else would be tragic. To the rich young man, who was not only successful but also diligently religious, Jesus said “One thing you lack.” Martha busied herself preparing a multi-course feast for Jesus, but he said, “One thing is needful.” Jesus spoke of a merchant who sold everything just to purchase the one pearl of great value.

The world tells us to indulge, to wrap our arms around as many valuable , perceived necessary things as possible. At some point we cannot distinguish what truly is of value. It all eventually becomes stuff. What if we could focus, and be satisfied with just one thing? There is only one thing that is enough. The Psalmist speaks of it as “dwelling in the house of the Lord all my days” — that is, to be in God’s presence continually. Imagine if we could maintain a constant sense of being in God’s presence.

The Psalmist adds another intriguing request: “To behold the beauty of the Lord.” Not merely to see the Lord, but drawn in to “the beauty of the Lord.” When we see beauty, it’s hard to look away. We desire it. We do not notice competitors for our attention. Beauty changes us. Jewel sang, “Maybe if we are surrounded by beauty, someday we will become what we see.” It is only as we are surrounded by the beauty of God, the wonders of creation that we may discern that the way to beauty is a way to God.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.