Today's 'Imitiation'

"My child, if to satisfy yourself and to seek the society of any person you place all your contentment in that person, you will become entangled and lose your peace. On the other hand, if you have recourse only to Me, the living and everlasting Truth, you will not be overwhelmed if friends forsake you or you lose them by death.

Whoever they may be, your friends must be loved for My sake, no matter how good they appear to you, or how dear they are to you in this life. No friendship can be profitable or lasting in this life, nor is it a true and pure love which does not have its source in Me.

Your affection toward those you love should be so mortified that you would be willing to be without friends at all. To that degree by which you withdraw from all earthly consolation, such will be your approach to God; and so much higher do you ascend to God, as you lower yourself and become despicable in your own estimation.

2. However, if you attribute anything good to yourself, you only impede God’s grace; for the grace of the Holy Spirit ever seeks a humble heart. If only you knew how to forget yourself and to empty yourself of all created love, then would I pour My grace into your heart. The more you look toward creatures, the dimmer becomes the sight of the Creator.

Learn for His sake to overcome yourself in all things, and then you will be able to grow in divine knowledge. No matter how little it is, anything loved and regarded inordinately will keep you back from the supreme Good and corrupt your soul.
" -Thomas A Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Ch. 42

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Today's 'Imitation'

"Use all occasions for your spiritual gain. If you observe good example, follow it; and if you see bad example, take care not to do the same; and if you have already fallen into this fault, work to correct it quickly. As your eye observes others, be sure that you also are observed by them.

What an inspiration to see religious persons devout and fervent in the love of God, courteous and self-disciplined!

On the other hand, how sad to see those whose lives are disorderly and who do not practice those things to which they are called. How detrimental it is for us to neglect the purpose of our calling and to divert our minds to things that are not our concern." Thomas A Kempis, The Imitation of Christ Book 1, Ch 25, Sec. 5

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When people slander you

"Christ: Do not take it seriously, my child, if people think evil of you and say things about you that you do not want to hear. You ought to have a worse opinion of yourself and to think that no one is weaker than you are.

If you are well recollected within, you will take no notice of fleeting words from without. It is a sign of wisdom, when evil words are spoken, to keep silence and tot urn your heart to Me, refusling to be disturbed by man's judgment.

2. Do not let your peace of mind depend on what people say about you. You are still what you are, no matter whether they put a good or bad interpretation on your actions. Where will you find true peace and true glory if not in Me?

Certainly this is so. The person who neither aspires to please others nor fears to displease them will enjoy much peace; for all disquiet of heart and distraction of the senses come from disorderly affections and groundless fear." - The Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 28

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Today's Imitation...

"4. How, then, can this life be loved, which is so full of bitterness and subject to so many trials? How can it even be called life since it brings forth so many deaths and spiritual plagues? Yet it is loved and many seek all their pleasures in it.

The world is often blamed for being deceitful and vain, yet it is not easily given up, especially when the desires of the flesh take hold. Some things lead us to love the world, others to despise it.

Those things that lead a person to love the world are sensual desires, the enticement that lure the eyes, the pride in riches (1 Jn 2:16); but the pains and miseries that follow them breed a hatred of and disgust with the world.

5. But, sad to say, a little pleasure dominates the minds of the worldly, driving out of their hearts all heavenly desires, to such an extent that many imagine that joy is to be found in living under such sensual pleasures. That is because they have neither seen nor tasted the sweetness of God and the inward joy of virtue.

But those who utterly despise the world and strive to live under holy discipline experience the heavenly sweetness promised to spiritual persons; they also see the errors of the world and how it is deceived in so many ways."

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Sunday, January 30th, 2011

"Vain is the life of that man who puts his trust in men or in any created Thing. Be not ashamed to be the servant of others for the love of Jesus Christ, and to be reckoned poor in this life. Rest not upon yourself, but build your hope in God. Do what lie in your power, and God will help your good intent. Trust not in your learning, nor in the cleverness of any that lives, but rather trust in the favour of God, who resists the proud and gives grace to the humble." - Thomas A Kempis The Imitation of Christ

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From 'The Imitation of Christ'

"2. It is wise, therefore, to act slowly, not to trust entirely to our own opinions, or to accept every tale and quickly pass it along to the next one. Seek advice from a wise person of good conscience and be instructed by that person rather than follow your own way." - The Imitation of Christ, Chapter 4, On Being Prudent In What We Accept and do.

So much is simple common sense. I think that's how the Holy Spirit works, most often...

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Today's little wisdom

From The Imitation Of Christ:

"If only people would use as much energy avoiding sin and cultivating virtues as they do in disputing questions, there would not be so much evil in the world,..."

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Proper

and beneficial thoughts for one's life in pursuit of union with God:

"True self-knowledge makes you aware of your own worthlessness and you will take no pleasure in the praises of others. If your knowledge encompasses the universe and the love of God is not in you, what good will it do you in God's sight? He will judge you according to your actions."

Part of my slow and often-thwarted attempts to become closer to God is to meditate on the 'instructions' given in Thomas A Kempis' The Imitation of Christ. As I find things that interest me I'll probably post them here. This quotation here is of an interesting paragraph.

There are more paragraphs similar to this one. The problem is that they are directed to people who already have a good self-image. The author isn't suggesting that you develop a bad self-image but rather that you temper it with reality. The problem that besets a person with a poor self-image is that they try to justify their bad self-image by this recommendation. They're still not seeing reality.

(Anyone who knows me will know that this knowledge is all intellect. My self-image is as poor as anyone's and this chapter doesn't do me a bit of good.)

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