Of the Imitation of Christ (Two)
“‘He who
follows Me, walks not in darkness,’ says the Lord. [John 8:12.]
Last week’s
article introduced the book, Of The Imitation of Christ by Thomas À Kempis.
It was written about 1418-1427, and has never been out of print since its
publication, It has been the all-time best-selling religious book second only
to the Bible.
The
“Imitation” begins with these words:
By these
words of Christ we are advised to imitate His life and habits, if we wish to be
truly enlightened and free from all blindness of heart.
Let our
chief effort, therefore, be to study the life of Jesus Christ.
The
teaching of Christ is more excellent than all the advice of the saints, and he
who has His spirit will find in it a hidden manna. [Rev 2:17.]
Now, there
are many who hear the Gospel often but care little for it because they have not
the spirit of Christ.
Yet whoever
wishes to understand fully the words of Christ must try to pattern his whole
life on that of Christ.
What good
does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking humility, you
displease the Trinity?
Indeed it
is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him
pleasing to God.
I would
rather feel contrition than know how to define it.
For what
would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all
the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God?
Vanity of
vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone.
This is the
greatest wisdom – to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world.
[Mt 6:33.]
It is
vanity, therefore, to seek and trust in riches that perish. [Mt 6:19-21.]
It is
vanity also to court honor and to be puffed up with pride.
It is
vanity to follow the lusts of the body and to desire things for which severe
punishment later must come.
It is
vanity to wish for long life and to care little about a well-spent life.
It is
vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for
things to come.
It is
vanity to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy
abides.
Often
recall the proverb: ‘The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled
with hearing.’ [Eccl. 1:8.]
Try,
moreover, to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself
to things invisible.
For they who follow their own evil passions stain their
consciences and lose the grace of God.”
Dibby Green
Originally published in the print edition of the Mojave Desert News on August 1, 2019.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is located in California City, CA. Visit our website at ollcalcity.org.
Blog Home: https://ollchurch.blogspot.com
Blog Home: https://ollchurch.blogspot.com