He Is the Great I AM

Mother Julian of Norwich

**Today with Julian – August 3rd:

Our Lord showed Himself to me,
even more glorious than ever . . .

And He said to me oever and over again,
simply, joyfully, caringly:

I am He who is highest.
I am He whom you love.
I am He in whom you delight.
I am He whom you serve.
I am He for whom you long.
I am He whom you desire.
I am He whom you intend.
I am He who is all.
I am He whom Holy Church preaches and teaches to you.
I am He who showed Himself before you.

I repeat these words of Jesus here and now
so that everyone might accept them
as our Lord intended them to be accepted,
according to the grace God gives each person
in understanding and love.

(Mother Julian, Short Text, Chapter xiii)

“The Be-All and End-All” is a folk saying to describe something that is the very best or most important; something so good that it will end the search for anything better.

Mother Julian’s experience of Christ in her visions was this kind of experience. She was so overwhelmed by the fullness of His Love, at once high and mighty, and kindly and familiar, that she could only describe Him in terms of the Great I AM of Holy Scripture.

The Be-All and End-All, the Alpha and Omega, the First and Last, the Beginner and the Finisher — “I it am,” He said, “who is All.” And those who in quiet contemplative will seek Him, will experience Everything, in the fullness of Eternal Love.

~ Will, ObJN