Friends, today reflect on the sacred work of healing—the deep, transformative renewal that touches not only our bodies but our hearts and spirits. This kind of healing is not found in fleeting remedies but in the eternal flow of love, the divine presence that sustains and unites all things. For guidance on this journey, we turn to Julian of Norwich, a 14th-century mystic who experienced profound visions of this divine love.

Julian wrote about “oneing”—a union so complete, so compassionate, that it draws all things into harmony with the Divine. She reminds us that healing is not just a restoration of what was broken but a profound joining of ourselves with the sacred wholeness of existence. Whether we call this Oneness God, Spirit, the Divine, or Love, Julian’s wisdom speaks to all who seek peace amidst life’s brokenness.

The Wounds We Carry

We all carry wounds. Some are visible—grief, heartbreak, illness. Others are unseen—shame, fear, or the quiet ache of feeling unworthy. Julian lived in a time marked by pain: plagues swept the land, wars shattered communities, and despair often felt like the only companion. And yet, in the depth of her own suffering, she experienced the Divine as a presence that does not turn away from our pain but draws nearer to it.

Julian speaks of the wounds of Christ—not as a distant theological image, but as a profound truth: that the Divine knows and shares in our suffering. “Our wounds,” she writes, “do not separate us from God. Instead, they are the very places where God’s love seeks to meet us.” Here is where healing begins—not in the denial of our pain but in the courage to allow divine love to touch it.

This is a universal truth found in many spiritual paths. In Buddhist teachings, suffering is the gateway to awakening. In Jewish tradition, the Shekinah—the indwelling presence of God—remains close to the brokenhearted. Across traditions, we find this shared understanding: the wounds we carry are not barriers to the sacred; they are invitations to deeper connection.

The Call to Oneness

Julian’s vision of “oneing” offers us more than solace; it calls us to transformation. To be oneed with the Divine is to enter into a relationship so intimate that it changes us. This is not simply about feeling comforted; it is about being made whole. It is about experiencing the interweaving of our own being with the great Love that holds the cosmos together.

Julian writes, “By His grace, He raises us up to Himself… and binds us to Him with such great power that we can never be parted.” For those of us who come from different spiritual traditions, this may be seen as the way in which divine love binds us to the sacred unity of all life. It is the healing that comes not from erasing our pain, but from transforming it. Our wounds, like the scars on the hands of the risen Christ, do not disappear. Instead, they become symbols of redemption, proof of life’s resilience and the enduring presence of love.

In Hindu teachings, the concept of moksha speaks of liberation from the illusions of separateness, bringing us into union with the Divine. Similarly, the Sufi poet Rumi wrote, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” Across cultures and faiths, the wisdom is clear: to heal is to unite with the sacred, to be drawn into the wholeness that has always been there, waiting for us.

Healing the World

Julian’s vision of oneing extends beyond the individual. She insists that this union with the Divine is not just for personal healing—it is for the healing of all creation. She proclaims, “And thus in our making, God united us to Himself; and evermore so.” This means that when we are drawn into divine love, we are also drawn into responsibility for one another and for the earth itself.

When we allow ourselves to be healed, we become vessels of healing. Our scars—redeemed by love—become signs of hope for others. In every tradition, there is a call to serve the greater good, to be instruments of peace and restoration. In the Jewish tradition of tikkun olam, we are called to repair the world. In Indigenous teachings, healing oneself is seen as part of healing the community. In Christian thought, to love one’s neighbor as oneself is the essence of divine union. Healing is never just for us; it is always for the world.

Conclusion

Beloved, healing is not a simple path. It requires courage, patience, and an openness to the sacred presence that flows through all things. Julian of Norwich reminds us that our wounds do not define us—they are the places where love can enter, where transformation begins. When we allow ourselves to be healed, we take part in the great work of restoring the world.

Go forth today, holding to the truth that love is stronger than fear, and wholeness is deeper than brokenness. Trust that in the sacred unity of all things, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

May peace be with you, and may healing flow through you into the world.

May it be so. Amen.