markdohle Posted May 21, 2017 #1 Share Posted May 21, 2017 The wrath of man “I saw no wrath [in God} except on man’s part, and that He forgives in us” (Julian of Norwich reading 99) When I was meditating on the above quote from the book “Revelations of Divine Love” it brought to mind one of my greatest struggles as a man who wishes to grow in my openness to the Spirit of the Lord. When I am hurt, or the times when I wish things would go my way, or when someone does a great evil towards others, my first instinct is to seek to bestow wrath on them, or for justice. It comes from as Julian goes on to say: “Wrath: a departure from and an opposition to peace and love”. When I feel anger and a desire to set things right, more often than not it is not based on either love or a seeking after true justice, but on my desire to control and manipulate others out of fear and anxiety. So when I make a judgment that is fed by anger, it seldom if ever comes from a place that seeks healing and love of others. So yes, wrath resides in me. It is a fearful thing when I project that onto God. Again Julian goes on: “It comes from a failure of power, or of wisdom, or of goodness” My ability to see into others is shallow at best, and wrong most of the time, perhaps all of the time because I only see the surface. God sees everything, which is why God is merciful and I have to struggle with it. “Mercy works protecting us, and mercy works transforming everything into good for us” Human wrath seldom knows mercy but seeks to punish and hurt and to even destroy. So yes I struggle every day with seeking to allow God’s mercy and grace to transform my heart into His heart. If I try to set things right without seeking to follow the Lords lead, there will only be ruin and destruction. It is when I fail that I am spurred on to continue the journey into the ‘Mind of Christ”, into “The Heart of Christ”. If not, when I fail, I will justify my actions and over time become more angry and unmerciful towards others. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarakore Posted May 25, 2017 #2 Share Posted May 25, 2017 On Sunday, May 21, 2017 at 7:50 AM, markdohle said: The wrath of man “I saw no wrath [in God} except on man’s part, and that He forgives in us” (Julian of Norwich reading 99) When I was meditating on the above quote from the book “Revelations of Divine Love” it brought to mind one of my greatest struggles as a man who wishes to grow in my openness to the Spirit of the Lord. When I am hurt, or the times when I wish things would go my way, or when someone does a great evil towards others, my first instinct is to seek to bestow wrath on them, or for justice. It comes from as Julian goes on to say: “Wrath: a departure from and an opposition to peace and love”. When I feel anger and a desire to set things right, more often than not it is not based on either love or a seeking after true justice, but on my desire to control and manipulate others out of fear and anxiety. So when I make a judgment that is fed by anger, it seldom if ever comes from a place that seeks healing and love of others. So yes, wrath resides in me. It is a fearful thing when I project that onto God. Again Julian goes on: “It comes from a failure of power, or of wisdom, or of goodness” My ability to see into others is shallow at best, and wrong most of the time, perhaps all of the time because I only see the surface. God sees everything, which is why God is merciful and I have to struggle with it. “Mercy works protecting us, and mercy works transforming everything into good for us” Human wrath seldom knows mercy but seeks to punish and hurt and to even destroy. So yes I struggle every day with seeking to allow God’s mercy and grace to transform my heart into His heart. If I try to set things right without seeking to follow the Lords lead, there will only be ruin and destruction. It is when I fail that I am spurred on to continue the journey into the ‘Mind of Christ”, into “The Heart of Christ”. If not, when I fail, I will justify my actions and over time become more angry and unmerciful towards others. Thank you mark. This was exactly what I needed to read now. Btw how did you come across Julian of Norwich? From a missal? Or... Gbwy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarakore Posted May 25, 2017 #3 Share Posted May 25, 2017 I also liked these two quotes from her: Our Savior is our true Mother in whom we are endlessly born and out of whom we shall never come. & All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdohle Posted May 25, 2017 Author #4 Share Posted May 25, 2017 8 hours ago, I hide behind words said: Thank you mark. This was exactly what I needed to read now. Btw how did you come across Julian of Norwich? From a missal? Or... Gbwy Her writings are in print. Paraclete Press has a very good edition, easy to read. She is a powerful writer and her experiences when read can help to heal our negative beliefs about God. Peace mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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