All will be well.

In the first reading, we hear Daniel, the very person who was protected from ravenous lions by God, describe a time of unsurpassed distress. As Sr. Mary McGlone writes, what could be so distressing to a man who spent the night locked up with lions?

It is easy to doubt that all will be well when we look at the crisis of modern society. It doesn't matter which side you're on, politically, to be very disturbed by the divisions that we feel. We've always agreed that while there may be many ways to achieve the common good, that destination - that we as a people have a common belief in "goodness" - was something we truly had in common. That in the end, our neighbors weren't the demons in our society, but things like poverty, disease, and hunger were the true battles.

And so I turn to Julian of Norwich, the medieval English mystic. Most famously, she wrote 17 words of hope and joy: "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” 

This is not a phrase that encourages you avoid the world around you. I once had a friend whom I called a turtle, because any time there was trouble on the horizon, he pulled his head into his shell and hoped it would all go away. That's not the message here! Pope Francis wrote last year that Julian of Norwich demonstrated "faith in God's loving providence and holiness of life expressed in generous service to our brothers and sisters in need." The Pope continued, "It is my hope that through a greater appreciation of the life of Mother Julian, Christians today will be encouraged to follow ever more faithfully and joyfully the example of Jesus, the one who came 'not to be served but to serve'".

After Julian's revelation, she spent 15 years pondering those simple words. How can it be, she wondered, when we see greed, corruption, and horror all around us? When God finally revealed the meaning of "all will be well" and true understanding finally emerged, she explained it in this way:

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. So I was taught that love is our Lord’s meaning.

In the book of Daniel, the message is not about horror and destruction, but consolation; we hear that, in the end, the wise will shine brightly and be like stars forever. All will be well. And Julian of Norwich shows us the path: Love. And not just "love", but the kind of love that Christ preached. 

One more quote from the Pope with respect to Julian's revelation of love: "In this regard, I pray that all who face the pressing challenges of war, injustice, ecological disaster or spiritual poverty may be consoled and strengthened by these enduring words of wisdom."

God bless.

-Deacon Mark

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