Christ our mother...

During last week's Foundation of Worship class we discussed the development of worship during the medieval period.  We talked about the changes to the mass, monophonic and polyphonic chant, and mysticism.  I read a selection from the visions of Julian of Norwich - a 14th century English mystic - which made some people uncomfortable.

The mother may give her child suck of her milk, but our precious Mother, Jesus, He may feed us with Himself, and doeth it, full courteously and full tenderly, with the Blessed Sacrament that is precious food of my life; and with all the sweet Sacraments He sustaineth us full mercifully and graciously. And so meant He in this blessed word where that He said: It is I that Holy Church preacheth thee and teacheth thee. That is to say: All the health and life of Sacraments, all the virtue and grace of my Word, all the Goodness that is ordained in Holy Church for thee, it is I. The Mother may lay the child tenderly to her breast, but our tender Mother, Jesus, He may homely lead us into His blessed breast, by His sweet open side, and shew therein part of the Godhead and the joys of Heaven, with spiritual sureness...

Christ our mother... you can see why there was squirming in the seats.   My purpose here is not to address her use of mother as a metaphor for Christ - although the more one reads what she has to say I'm convinced the less squirming there need be.  What fascinates me is that Julian was never kicked out of the Church - she was never labeled a heretic.  At times the medieval church represented a "big tent" orthodoxy.  People held different perspectives... whether it be the nature of the Eucharist, mystical visions of union with God, or how God relates to the created world... there was room for all of it.  This is not to say things were perfect, or that there were never times when people were taken to task for what they believed, but there seemed to be more generosity regarding belief - more generosity regarding the expression of those beliefs.

So how do we reclaim such generosity?  How do we become less concerned with drawing lines that determine who's in or out?  How do we become open to differing expressions of belief while still holding on to faithful orthodoxy?  I think we need people like Julian of Norwich - people on the fringes.  Reminding us that we can never control or manage the Word of God... pushing us to see our faith in radically refreshing ways.