The Gospel discovered by the Seventeenth Century poet, George Herbert, was that Jesus eases us. He had suffered ‘a great affliction’ that broke him. He found that Jesus eased him, and described the discovery in his delightful poem, ‘Jesu’. In silent prayer, we too find that Jesus eases us. We trust that his easing can be experienced, not only by us, but by all.
Centuries before, Abraham too had experienced a crisis. He had been promised children, but expected to die childless. God repeated his promise. “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness” Genesis 15:6. The accompanying picture is ‘Abraham’ by Ronald Rae. It shows an almost cartoon face, peeking shyly at the sky, as if pondering the stars that symbolised the number of descendants he would have. The fragility of the facial expression contrasts with the solidity and size of the rock into which it is carved. Beside it is a fingerpost implying ‘walk’, and a bench implying ‘rest’. There is a right time for each.
Here is George Herbert’s poem. In his day, the letter ‘J’ had only recently been differentiated from the letter ‘I’.
Jesu is in my heart, his sacred name
Is deeply carved there: but th’other week
A great affliction broke the little frame,
Ev’n all to pieces: which I went to seek:
And first I found the corner, where was J,
After, where ES, and next where U was graved,
When I had got these parcels, instantly
I sat me down to spell them, and perceived
That to my broken heart he was I ease you,
And to the whole is J E S U.
George Herbert , from his collection “The Temple”, 1633.
Behind the silence which is the key part of a Julian meeting, there may be consideration of Scripture. Here Marian Sale of the Isle of Man Julian meeting, shares an article she wrote for the group. She takes key lines from a section of the bible and reflects on them using other verses and her own experience. This invites the reader to take time to ponder and let each verse sink in, rather than just flash past.
ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER 3.
There is a time for everything:
1) A time to be born and a time to die.
In John 3:4 Jesus tells us that “no one comes to see the kingdom of God unless he be born again.” Some people call themselves “born again Christians”. This can happen at any age and it does not have to be once only, like St Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Perhaps some might not experience this until they are on their death beds. The spiritual writers tell us we are likely to experience “little deaths” throughout our lives. The seed has to die to become a plant (Jn.2:24). We have to die from childhood in order to become adult. We die a bit every day. I do not intend to enter the thorny questions of euthanasia, suicide or abortion.
2) A time to plant and a time to uproot.
When talking of the Pharisees, Jesus says “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots (Matt: 15:13). Also “every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matt:7:19). When Dutch Elm disease arrived on the Island, the Forestry Commission had a policy of cutting down and burning all diseased trees in order to preserve the rest.
3) A time to kill and a time to heal.
Although it says “thou shalt not murder” in the Ten Commandments, if a terrorist runs into a school or pop concert, brandishing a gun, it might be sensible to kill him before he commit mass murder
4) A time to tear down and a time to build.
Jesus tore down the tables of the money lenders in the Temple. At the moment of Jesus’ death “the curtain of the Temple was torn in two” (Matt 27:51). There is a saying:- “Ask your worst enemy to prune your roses” because the harder they are cut down the stronger the gr th for the following year. The Victorian slums were torn down in order to build more healthy and affordable housing. We still have the heritage of the magnificent mediaeval Cathedrals.
5) A time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance.
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh” (Luke 6:11). As Jesus was being led away to be crucified, He told his disciples “Do not weep for me, weep for yourselves and for your children”(Lk.23:28). “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5). “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy”(Ps. 126:5). Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus (Jn.11:35). It is only natural to weep at the death of our relatives and loved ones, but they would not want us to wear black for years like Queen Victoria. God turns our mourning into dancing (Ps.30:11) and the prodigal son was welcomed home with dancing (Lk. 15:25).
6) A time to be silent and a time to speak.
Jesus remained silent to his accusers in front of Pontius Pilate (Matt 27:14) because He knew His final destination. This was foretold by Isaiah (53:7-8) “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth, he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before his shearers is silent, he did not open his mouth.”
Although Ecclesiastes was written at the time of King Solomon it is equally relevant for today. Time has nothing to do with minutes, hours and years. Sometimes time flies, sometimes it seems to drag.
© Marian Sale
Diane Watkins writes:
I was a member of Beverley Julian meeting. When I was a young person, I wrote a poem which expressed my thoughts and feelings about the mystery of suffering which I include below. I have never shown it to anyone until now.
Who cares? Who cares? Who cares?
Yes, who will care
When all the blood and sweat have flowed and dried
When furrowed face is quenched with tears run cold
And anguished heart with anguish is o’er whelmed
For I care, God, thou knowest how I care,
And how my caring is to nothing brought
By others knowing much and caring naught.
But caring’s not enough- no, we must DO ,
And doing must engage the ravening foe,
Yet caring not how little we can do,
And knowing just how little we can know.
© Diane Watkins
A sequence of verses for meditation, celebrating our union with Christ:
I live, no longer I, but Christ who lives in me (Gal 2:20)
In whom all things hold together (Col 1:17)
And God is all in all. (1 Cor. 15:28)
The Julian Meetings magazine contained a variety of materials; articles, poems, verses, and book reviews. This edition of the Blog partly revives that tradition. Please contact us with your response: https://thejulianmeetings.net/contact-for-blog/
Photograph © Philip Tyers. ‘Abraham’, by Ronald Rae b. 1946, in the grounds of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, for mental care.
The Julian Meetings support in-person and online groups around the country. We make teaching on Contemplative Prayer and Meditation as easily and widely accessible as we can. Articles and reviews express the views only of their respective authors.
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