Disciple = Discipline

Thomas a'Kempis wraps up Chapter 25, of Book 1 (and therefore Book 1 is done!) with his final "useful admonitions" on how to amend our life.

In short, a disciple is disciplined.  It's obvious, you can see, that the two terms are related, not only to each other, but to the spiritual walk (Mi 6:8)

Thomas points out that when you take on the role of a follower of Jesus Christ, that you have a new standard to uphold, and that in order to uphold that standard, there are a few items you may want to try...some of which will be uncomfortable.  But the exchange comes when in adopting of the rules of the faith you reap the result of joy and spiritual refreshment.

7. Whoever is a sincere person receives and bears well those burdens laid upon him. Whoever is careless and lukewarm has numerous troubles, and suffers anguish upon every side, because there is no comfort within, and seeking outward comfort is forbidden. Whoever is living without discipline is exposed to dreadful ruin. Whenever you seek easier and lighter discipline you will be in distress, because one thing or another will inevitably displease you.

8. How do so many devout persons live under strict monastic discipline?
They seldom go abroad; they live very retired; their diet is very poor; their habit is coarse; they labor much; they speak little; they watch long; they rise early; they spend much time in prayer; they read often and keep themselves in all discipline.

Cistercian Coat of Arms

Consider the Carthusians, the Cistercians, and the monks and nuns of different Orders, how every night they rise to sing psalms to the Lord. It would, therefore, be a shame for you to be sluggish at so holy a time when such multitudes of devout disciples begin with joy and give praise to God.

9. O! if no other duty lay upon us but to praise the Lord our God with our whole heart and voice! Oh! if you never had need to eat or drink, or sleep, but were always able to praise God, and to give yourself over to spiritual exercises alone; then you should be far happier, when for so many necessities you must serve the flesh. O! that these necessities were not tied to the flesh, but only that we could taste the spiritual refreshments of the soul, which alas we taste too seldom.

11. When you have come to this, that you seek comfort from no created thing, then you will perfectly begin to enjoy God, then also will you be well contented with whatsoever shall happen to you. Then you will neither rejoice for much nor be sorrowful for little, but you shall know the commitment to yourself and with full trust in God, who is all in all to you, to whom nothing perishes nor dies, but all things live to Him and obey His every word without delay.

12. Always remember your end, and how the time which is lost does not return. Without care and diligence you shall never obtain virtue. If you begin to grow cold, it shall begin to go ill with you, but if you give yourself to zeal you shall find much peace, and shall find your labor the lighter because of the grace of God and the love of virtue. A zealous and diligent disciple is ready for all things. It is greater labor to resist sins and passions than to toil in bodily labors. He who does not shun venial faults falls little by little into greater faults. At eventide you shall always be glad if you spent the day profitably. Watch over yourself, stir yourself up, admonish yourself, and no matter how it is with others, do not neglect yourself. The more discipline you enter into yourself, the more you shall profit.

Amen.

And so we end Book 1, of the Imitation of Christ.

Thank you for reading, praying along with me in uncovering the keen insights of this great and holy disciple of Christ. 

May we all be Imitators of Christ!

Next month, I'll begin book 2, which is much shorter (12 chapters), and deals with the Interior life.

Until til then, pray hard, life is short.
tim