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Of the Imitation of Christ (Three)

      For the last two weeks we have considered the book, Of The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas À Kempis, and read short excerpts. It is too good of a devotional classic to move on from too soon, so we will consider another excerpt today from a chapter called (in a modern translation), “Of Intimate Friendship with Jesus.”
      “When Jesus is near, all is well and nothing seems difficult. When He is absent, all is hard.
      When Jesus does not speak within, all other comfort is empty, but if He says only a word, it brings great consolation.
      Did not Mary Magdalen rise at once from her weeping when Martha said to her: ‘The Master is come, and calls for you’?
      Happy is the hour when Jesus calls one from tears to joy of spirit.
      How dry and hard you are without Jesus! How foolish and vain if you desire anything but Him!
      Is it not a greater loss than losing the whole world?
      For what, without Jesus, can the world give you?
      Life without Him is a relentless hell, but living with Him is a sweet paradise.
      If Jesus be with you, no enemy can harm you.
      He who finds Jesus finds a rare treasure, indeed, a good above every good, whereas he who loses Him loses more than the whole world.
      The man who lives without Jesus is the poorest of the poor, whereas no one is so rich as the man who lives in His grace.
      It is a great art to know how to converse with Jesus, and great wisdom to know how to keep Him.
      Be humble and peaceful, and Jesus will be with you.
      Be devout and calm, and He will remain with you.
      You may quickly drive Him away and lose His grace, if you turn back to the outside world.
      And, if you drive Him away and lose Him, to whom will you go and whom will you then seek as a friend?
      You cannot live well without a friend, and if Jesus be not your friend above all else, you will be very sad and desolate.
      Thus, you are acting foolishly if you trust or rejoice in any other.
      Choose the opposition of the whole world rather than offend Jesus.
      Of all those who are dear to you, let Him be your special love.
      Let all things be loved for the sake of Jesus, but Jesus for His own sake.
      Jesus Christ must be loved alone with a special love for He alone, of all friends, is good and faithful.
      For Him and in Him you must love friends and foes alike, and pray to Him that all may know and love Him.”
Dibby Green
Originally published in the print edition of the Mojave Desert News on August 8, 2019.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is located in California City, CA. Visit our website at ollcalcity.org.
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