- Jesus, like a mother you gather your people to you; •
you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.
Often you weep over our sins and our pride, •
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgement.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds, •
in sickness you nurse us, and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying we are born to new life;
by your anguish and labour we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness; •
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead, •
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us; •
in your love and tenderness remake us.
In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness, •
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.
A Song of Julian of Norwich
God chose to be our mother in all things •
and so made the foundation of his work,
most humble and most pure,
in the Virgin’s womb.
God, the perfect wisdom of all, •
arrayed himself in this humble place.
Christ came in our poor flesh •
to share a mother’s care.
Our mothers bear us for pain and for death; •
our true mother, Jesus, bears us for joy and endless life.
Christ carried us within him in love and travail, •
until the full time of his passion.
And when all was completed and he had carried us so for joy, •
still all this could not satisfy the power of his wonderful love.
All that we owe is redeemed in truly loving God, •
for the love of Christ works in us; Christ is the one whom we love.
