Melting Gold: Easier Than A Devout Life

Have a listen to this great Gregorian Chant while you read through this post:
This chapter, at first, was somewhat difficult to synthesize, because I've never been in a "religious" community.  However, after reading through the meditation several times, what Thomas is pointing to is not simply a monastic community, but a community of devout believers, wherever they may be.  While one of the reasons Thomas a'Kempis wrote "The Imitation of Christ" was for those entering religious life, it has direct application to those of us outside the monastery walls. In some sense, the previous chapters all lead up to this one:  entering into a devout life (not just a life-style). In the next few chapters, good Thomas will take us deeper into the monastery and guide us into a prayer life via the example of the Church Fathers.  So this chapter is a short introduction to a more devout life.  As always, the secret weapon is humility and focus on pursuit of God's Love. After the meditation, you will get a reward.


CHAPTER 17 On a Religious (Devout) Life

A Devoted Community: the Apostles

Learn to be humble in all things if you want to get along with others, for it is to your benefit. It is not easy to live in a religious community, and to live there without complaint, and to remain faithful even unto death. Blessed are those who have lived a good life in such a community, and brought it to a happy end. Persevere in this humility and you will acquire it as you should, by regarding yourself as an exile and a pilgrim upon this earth. If you are to lead a devout, religious life, be counted as a fool for Christ (1 Cor 1:19; 1 Cor 4:10, 1 Cor 3:19; 1 Cor 1:21).

2. Religious clothing such as the habit and tonsure, and outward appearances matter little; it is change of character and entire humility of affections which make a truly devout person. When you seek those things other than the health of your soul and God Himself, you will only find tribulation and sorrow. You cannot remain long in peace, when you do not strive to be least of all and servant of all.


3. You are called to endure and to labor, not to a life of ease and wasteful gossip. In a life of devotion, you are meant to be tried as gold in a furnace. No one can last long, unless with all your heart you will humble yourself for the sake of  God's love.

And here is your prize:  Reward for Fidelity. 2 Tim 4:6-8

"For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance."

Until next time, thank you for reading and praying along with me.
tim

Howe Dew Wee Bare width te Faultz ov Udders?

Sometimes we think we
 are helping others when
it is we who are
being helped!

My friend Larry is fond of saying that "As soon as I get myself lined out, I'm gonna start on you guys."  This is the theme that Thomas a'Kempis is striving to teach us this week.  I added one scripture passage from Genesis, which you can check out below.  Thomas starts off by telling us to pray.  Sound familiar?  It should...it's a recurring theme in his admonitions in Book 1.  Thomas then suggests that we work on our own shortcomings to be an example to others.  And that perhaps one of those shortcomings is our incapacity to tolerate other's shortcomings!

 CHAPTER 16 Howe Dew Wee Bare width te Faultz ov Udders?

Those things which a man cannot improve in himself or in others, he ought to bear patiently, until God commands otherwise. Perhaps it is better for your personal trials and growth in patience, without which our merits are worth little . You must nevertheless, under such obstacles, pray to God that He would grant you assistance, so that you can bear these with grace.

2. If one who is once or twice admonished refuses to listen, do not contend with him, but commit that person to God, that His will may be done and His honour be shown in His servants, for He knows how to convert the evil into good (Gn 45:5-8). 

Strive to be patient in bearing with other's faults and infirmities whatever these are, for you yourself have many faults which others must bear. If you cannot make yourself what you desire, how will you be able to shape your fellow travellers to your liking. We are always ready to see others made perfect, and yet we do not amend our own shortcomings.

3. We would have others be strictly corrected, but we will not be corrected ourselves. The freedom of others displeases us, but we are dissatisfied that our own wishes are denied. We desire rules to be made restraining others, but by will not permit ourselves to be restrained. It is therefore evident how seldom we weigh our neighbour in the same balance as ourselves. If all were perfect, what then should we have to suffer from others for God's sake?

4. But now God has ordained things, so that we may learn to bear one another's burdens (Gal 6:2), because no one is without defect, none without a burden, none self-sufficient, none wise enough; but we must support one another, to comfort one another, to help, instruct, admonish one another. How much strength each man has is best proved by adversity: for such occasions do not make you frail, but rather show your strength.

This last paragraph says it all, doesn't it?  Please forgive me my mistakes, brothers and sisters, and especially, my Lord.  This Sunday God speaks to us through Isaiah in this Sunday's first reading, telling us how He aches at our transgressions "You burdened me with your sins, and wearied me with your crimes(Is 43:24).

Then God tells us His nature:  "It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake, your offenses;
your sins I remember no more (Is 43:25).

Until next time, when we look again at living with one another, keep praying with me and reading along.
tim

Charity Formula:Loving Intent + Good Deeds = (God's Blessing)Xn

Charity:  What does it mean to you?  How do you go about it?  And for what purpose? Thomas briefly answers these questions for us today by first telling us what charity is NOT.  It's not evil.  Sometimes such an act should be omitted in favor of a better situation in the future.

Thomas then takes us into Scripture, focusing on the "Love" chapter of 1 Corinthians and the story from Luke's Gospel about the sinful woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears and hair and faith in His forgiveness.  Thomas then comes up with a formula: 

Loving Intent + Good Work = (God's Blessings)Xn.

Chapter 15 Works Done Out of Charity



Evil should not be done, either for anything in the world or for the love of any man; but for the profit of one that stands in need a good deed is sometimes omitted or it can be changed for a better deed. For by so doing a good work is not lost but is changed into something better.

Without charity the outward deed is worthless; but whatever is done out of charity, be it ever so little and insignificant, all becomes fruitful (1 Cor 13:3). For God regards more with how much affection and love a person performs a charitable work than how many deeds he does(Luke 7:47*).

Next Thomas breaks it back down for us, warning us that we should not seek out charitable works to make ourselves feel better, but seek to make it about honoring The Lord and helping His people. The rewards will be there, and it's alright to bask in His Presence when He blesses us, but to remember that it's about Him....not us!

2. He does much who loves much. He does much that does well what he does. He does well who regards the common good rather than his own pleasure.

Often that which seems to be charity is really simple carnality. Because of our own natural inclinations, we look to our own self-interests, hope of reward, and personal desires: these are seldom absent even in this area of our life.               



St. Katherine Drexel



3. True and perfect charity, then, lies not in self seeking, but rather in the desire only for the glory of God. The charitable envy none, nor do is private joy sought, nor even do they seek their own pleasure; but above all things wish to be made happy in God.Such charitable.

  Ah! if man had but one spark of charity he would doubtless perceive that all earthly things are full of vanity.

We come back to this theme of vanity again and again.  Wonder why?  Because we keep seeing the same aspect of our selfishness and sinfulness in all parts of our life, even those areas where we try to do good.  It's ok, we can overcome it with prayer.

I picked St. Kaherine Drexel as my icon here since she was a woman of wealth who gave it all up and spent much of her adult life working with American Indian children and others in need.

Until next time, thanks for reading and praying with me. Next time we will look at Forebearance.
tim

p.s.  the passage from the Gospel of St. Luke is below:
*36 A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
37Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, 38she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages^* and the other owed fifty. 42 Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.  46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. 47 So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love.^* But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”^s 50 But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”