Victor Shepherd writes of Dame Julian of Norwich, "Julian never hesitated to speak of Jesus Christ as "our mother." In this, however, she was not supporting the current feminisation of God. She knew that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- eternally, and that this God dwells in Jesus of Nazareth. (Col. 2:9) In speaking of Christ as "our mother," Julian was merely likening the work of Christ to that of a mother. He gives birth to those who are "born again." Like a mother, He suffers for them before, during and after "delivery." He must patiently nourish, safeguard and instruct those who are born of him. In none, of this, however, was Julian anticipating the contemporary argument that God is "she.""
I must admit it's been some time since I thought of Dame Julian (1342-1416). The last time was probably while I was still living within an hour of Norwich while we were stationed abroad more than two decades ago. (I've never been able to find Carrow--it may be one of those villages that died out as a result of the Black Death or some other pestilence since that time.) She certainly has her wisdom to offer, which is all about God's mercy, fitting nicely into my blog. What I need is to pray on her profound realization of how mother-like Jesus is in his mercy...and to ask Him to rain it down on myself as I strive to resolve a minor health issue & on a family member who has suffered a miscarriage.
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