“If our eneme owte wynnith of us by our fallyng, for it is his likenes, he lesith manyfold more in our rising be charite and mekeness . than is this the remedy – that we ben aknowen our writchisnes and flen to our Lord. For ever the mor nedier that we ben, the more spedefull it is to us to neyghen Him.”

Julian, LXXVII

(If our enemy gains something when we fall, this is what he likes; but he loses much more when we rise again in love and meekness . that then is the remedy, to be aware of our wretchedness and to flee to the Lord. The needier we are, the more important it is to draw near to him.)

Like the apostle Peter, Julian is aware that we have an enemy who “prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour”(1 Peter 5). She speaks of the “Fiend from which I gathered that everything opposed to love and peace comes.” Peter states that to oppose our enemy we need to be self-controlled and alert.

Part of our comfort in the hard times comes from understanding that we are not the only ones under attack – it is a “normal” part of being a believer; perhaps even a symbol of how effective how faith is. The greater comfort comes from recognising that “the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” Julian also picks up this theme, we need to grasp our responsibility in defending ourselves against the Fiend, but if we are to stand we also need to recognise the limits of our ability and hold fast to the true source of comfort and strength. “The remedy is to be aware of our wretchedness, and to fly to our Lord. The greater our need, the more important it is to fly to Him .. Flee to our Lord and we shall be strengthened. Touch him and we shall be cleansed. Cling to him, and we shall be safe and sound from every danger.” As Peter says it: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

The Hasidic Masters tell the story of a father and his son travelling together in a wagon. As they came to the edge of a forest the boy saw some berries he wanted to harvest and eat. He started picking the fruit. After awhile his father needed to keep travelling, but the son was too engrossed in the fruit to leave the bush. Finally the father called out: “You may pick your berries for a while longer, but be sure you are still able to find me, for I shall start moving slowly along the road. As you work call out ‘Father! Father!’ every few minutes, and I shall answer you. As long as you can hear my voice, know that I am still nearby. But as soon as you can no longer hear my answer, know that you are lost, and run with all your strength to find me!” A tree of fine tasting berries may not seem to be the work of a “fiend” or “prowling lion”, but this is the heart of our struggle. The small, everyday temptations, the fine-print of the ten commandments which drip by drip erode our will to be like Him.

Peter ends his chapter by speaking of a “God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ after you have suffered a little while (he) will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” Julian ends chapter 72 with a similar sentiment “to be perfectly like our Lord is true salvation indeed and utter bliss. If we do not know how to manage this, let us ask our Lord to teach us. For this is what he likes, and it honours him. Bless him!”

Martin de Graaf