Suddenly the Trinity Filled My Heart With Utmost Joy
Julian's heart was filled with utmost joy as she saw the Trinity revealed in the Passion of Jesus Christ, giving her strength against temptation and a deeper understanding of God's love.
Julian of Norwich shares a profound vision where she sees the red blood trickling down from under the Garland, symbolizing the Passion of Christ, who suffered for all. She experiences immense joy as the Trinity fills her heart, giving her a glimpse of the eternal joy in heaven. Julian is astonished by the humility of God towards sinful creatures and finds strength in the blessed Passion against all temptations. She also sees the blessed Virgin Mary in a vision, marveling at her wisdom and truth in humbly accepting her role in God's plan.
Text
IN this [moment] suddenly I saw the red blood trickle down from under the Garland hot and freshly and right plenteously, as it were in the time of His Passion when the Garland of thorns was pressed on His blessed head who was both God and Man, the same that suffered thus for me. I conceived truly and mightily that it was Himself shewed it me, without any mean.22 And in the same Shewing suddenly the Trinity fulfilled my heart most of joy. And so I understood it shall be in heaven without end to all that shall come there.
For the Trinity is God: God is the Trinity; the Trinity is our Maker and Keeper, the Trinity is our everlasting love and everlasting joy and bliss, by our Lord Jesus Christ. And this was shewed in the First [Shewing] and in all: for where Jesus appeareth, the blessed Trinity is understood, as to my sight. And I said: Benedicite Domine! This I said for reverence in my meaning, with mighty voice; and full greatly was astonied for wonder and marvel that I had, that He that is so reverend and dreadful will be so homely with a sinful creature living in wretched flesh.
This [Shewing] I took for the time of my temptation, 8 --for methought by the sufferance of God I should be tempted of fiends ere I died. Through this sight of the blessed Passion, with the Godhead that I saw in mine understanding, I knew well that It was strength enough for me, yea, and for all creatures living, against all the fiends of hell and ghostly temptation. In this [Shewing] He brought our blessed Lady to my understanding. I saw her ghostly, in bodily likeness: a simple maid and a meek, young of age and little waxen above a child, in the stature that she was when she conceived.
Also God shewed in part the wisdom and the truth of her soul: wherein I understood the reverent beholding in which she beheld her God and Maker, marvelling with great reverence that He would be born of her that was a simple creature of His making. And this wisdom and truth: knowing the greatness of her Maker and the littleness of herself that was made,--caused her to say full meekly to Gabriel: Lo me, God's handmaid! In this sight I understood soothly that she is more than all that God made beneath her in worthiness and grace; for above her is nothing that is made but the blessed Manhood23 Of Christ, as to my sight.24
Sermon Outline
- I. The Trinity Filled Julian's Heart with Utmost Joy
- A. The Trinity is God, and God is the Trinity
- B. The Trinity is our Maker, Keeper, Love, and Joy
- C. The Trinity is revealed in the Passion of Jesus Christ
- II. Julian's Response to the Shewing
- A. She exclaimed 'Benedicite Domine!' with reverence and wonder
- B. She was astonished by God's homeliness with a sinful creature
- III. The Shewing as Strength Against Temptation
- A. The sight of the blessed Passion gave Julian strength against fiends and temptation
- B. The Godhead revealed in the Shewing was enough for Julian and all creatures
- IV. The Blessed Lady's Wisdom and Reverence
- A. Julian saw the Blessed Lady as a simple maid with great reverence for God
- B. The Blessed Lady's wisdom and truth were revealed in her response to Gabriel
Key Quotes
“And in the same Shewing suddenly the Trinity fulfilled my heart most of joy.” — Julian of Norwich
“For the Trinity is God: God is the Trinity; the Trinity is our Maker and Keeper, the Trinity is our everlasting love and everlasting joy and bliss, by our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Julian of Norwich
“This [Shewing] I took for the time of my temptation, 8 --for methought by the sufferance of God I should be tempted of fiends ere I died.” — Julian of Norwich
Application Points
- We can find strength against temptation and fiends by remembering the Godhead and the love of God for humanity.
- We should approach God with reverence and humility, recognizing our own sinfulness and God's holiness.
- We can learn from the Blessed Lady's wisdom and truth, which were revealed in her response to Gabriel and her reverence for God.