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

Don't Scratch That Itch! Of Avoiding Rash Judgment

Think of you best mosquito bite.  The one you had when you were ten, and just had to itch it.  You itched it so much that you broke skin and it got all bloody and scabbed over.  But it really felt good to do it, didn't it?  Even when you knew what the result would be.

When we see a defect in others, it is similarly compelling, in that we just have to do something about it!  Thomas tells us to look to our own defects rather than wasting time correcting others...this is because we look through the lens of self-love rather than God's love.  Read on....and listen to the song at the end for some new perspective from Elvis.

Chapter 14 OF AVOIDING RASH JUDGMENT.


Turn your eyes back upon yourself and see that you do not judge the actions of others.


In judging others a man labors in vain; for the most part he is mistaken and he easily sins by doing so; but by judging and scrutinizing himself, he always labors with profit.


We often judge a thing according to how it has impacted our heart; true judgment is easily lost through such private affection.


If God were always the only object of our desire, we would not easily be disturbed because our own opinions are being resisted.

We often approve actions or thoughts of our own, but if the same action or thought is done by another.  Well, it's just wrong!  We are unaware of our own flaws but easily pick these same flaws out in others.  Furthermore, sometimes we take charitable action on a matter but really are doing such things for self-gain.

 2. But oftentimes there is some tendency lying hid within us, or occurring from without, that draws us along with it.


Many secretly seek themselves in what they do, and are not aware of it.

Too often a difference of feelings and opinions gives rise to dissensions between friends and fellow-citizens, between religious and devout persons.

 In this last paragraph, Thomas tells us to realign our daily habits if we want to find true charity.  Turning my will into God's Will is just fooling myself. We rationalize everything that is questionable, don't we?  Instead, I must seek His Will and break out of my barriers to adopt this new Habit.

3. An established habit is only relinquished with difficulty, and none are willingly led beyond their own views.

If you rely more on your own reason or industry than on the subduing virtue of Jesus Christ, you will seldom and with difficulty become an enlightened man.

For God wills us to become perfectly subject to Himself, and by the love that burns in us to transcend all reason.

Next time we'll talk about Charitible Works.

timUntil next time, thanks for reading and praying along with me today!