Conflicting Rx's - Following Vanity vs. Hurry to the Joy

As a quick aside, I've been delinquent due to some technical difficulties as well as some out-and-out laxity! Thank you for your patience.  You are all in my prayers this Easter Season, as I hope I am in yours....

This is an update of a previous posting with some corrections and the images reinserted.

"'Vanity of Vanities, and all life is vanity,' (Eccl 1:2), except to love God and serve Him alone. This is the highest wisdom, by setting aside worldly activities to tend to the heavenly kingdom."

Thomas probably would have liked power-point!  This next section, which follows his paragraph 3 admonition, is a set of bullet points: 

• 4. It is vanity to seek after  or to trust riches - which must perish in time.
• It is vanity also to be ambitious of honors and to raise oneself to a high station.
  
  
• It is vanity to follow fleshly desires and to desire that for which you must afterwards be grievously punished.
• It is vanity to wish for a long life and then to take little care of leading a good life.
• It is vanity also to only pay attention to this present life and not to look forward to those things which are to come in eternity. 

• It is vanity to love that which passes quickly and yet not to hurry wherever ever-lasting joy remains.

Thomas is not condemning, but rather warning that these excesses lead us into a place that is void of goodness and joy. It is OK to love your self. Jesus tells us to love our neighbor as ourself.  It is vanity to be so self-absorbed, however, in the typical meaning of vanity.  That's not love of self.  It's also OK to be rich and to seek and hold positions of honor, but not to sacrifice our souls to gain these same positions. It's good to live a long life, as long as that life is a good, meaningful, frutful life.  A good life consists in doing God's will, helping others, treating others well (at a minimum) and more.  Thomas recommends that we slow down a bit, but not be afraid to hurry into God's arms.  That's where the joy will be found.

5. Recall the proverb: "The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear filled with hearing ( Eccl 1:8 )."  Study therefore to withdraw your heart and the love of visible worldly things, and to turn your focus to the invisible.  For they that follow their sensuality defile their conscience and lose the grace of God.

Thomas finishes Chapter 1 with another quote from Ecclesiastes. We can let our eyes and ears and other senses dominate our minds and hearts, and lead us into self-consumption; or we can look to the faith and the Savior to pull us out of the muck. The invisible world exists just as truly as air exists and is provable by blowing up a baloon.   That invisible world of the Spirit is truly there - filled with angels, saints....and yes, all the bad stuff as well. All of which needs to be acknowledged for good or ill, and for the help that may be had at the beginning of a prayer.  As a child, I was taught to simply ask for my guardian angel to help me, or my patron saint, or a saintly deceased relative: "Uncle Vernon, please pray for me.  Please ask Jesus to help me."  The focus on the invisible is just like focusing on the visible.  However, it takes some practice, just as a newborn takes up to 8 months to fully develop eyesight, it will take some time and effort to "see" the invisible.

Back to vanity: what's the answer to all this vanity?  That's what the rest of Book 1 is all about. Thomas' prescription is to read the rest of Book 1. As you'll see in Chapter 2, Thomas starts by telling us to have a humble opinion of ourself. That'll be our first RX.

Thank you for reading and praying along with me. 'Til next time, be Imitators of Christ!

tim
 

*nb. If you haven't read this incredible Old Testament wisdom book, I highly recommend it.  It's not very long (12 Chapters) wherein Solomon concludes, after having the ability to pursue anything of interest to him, that everything is vanity and a chasing after the wind.  Knowing, loving and serving God are the answer.

"The last word, when all is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is man's all; because God will bring to judgment every work, with all its hidden qualities, whether good or bad." Eccl 12:13-14.

  

Pretenders Need Not Apply: Qualifications for Serving the King in the Garden

Here’s this week’s post on Bk 1, ch 1, para 3.

As we dig into our meditation this week, there’s a bit of a contradiction going on. Good Thomas told us last week that we need God’s Spirit, and to seek the mind of Christ. If we have started that walk, Thomas clarifies what it means to conform to Christ’s mind….or rather, what it does not mean:

3. What does it profit you to talk profoundly about the Trinity if you are without humility, and consequently, displeasing to the Trinity?

In Truth, sublime words do not make a man holy and just: rather, a virtuous life makes that man dear to God.

I would rather feel guilt than know the definition of guilt.

If you know the whole Bible by heart, and the sayings of great philosophers, what good would that do without the love of God and His Grace?

“Vanity of Vanities, all things are vanity,” (Eccl 1:2), except to love God and serve Him alone.

This is the highest wisdom, by setting aside worldly activities to tend to the heavenly kingdom.

It’s easy to make-believe and imagine. It’s fun. The kind of pretending Thomas writes about here is quite a bit more devious. While it’s good to know Scripture or great and pithy sayings, God looks at our heart and our actions. Pretending draws displeasure. God wants the real thing from us.

God falls in love with us by watching us as we try to fulfill his will. Think about how great it is to watch a child do a chore for mom or dad and you’ve got the picture. Just last week (when it was nice out), we were turning over the garden in the yard, and my 6 yr old son, John Paul, decided to dig his own garden, far away from mine, in the middle of the front yard! His garden is exactly one shovel deep and one shovel wide and one shovel long. He was very proud of it. Or, my 10 yr old daughter, Maria, who wanted her own garden space, tried very hard to turn over the dirt, but she just couldn’t sink the shovel. She learned that her efforts will not be fruitful, so she asked for help, and I’ll gladly dig it for her (when it’s warm again!). I couldn’t love them more for trying to help me, or trying to emulate what I was doing in the larger yard.

God is like that with us. When we are humble, like Him, or virtuous, like Him, we are “dear to Him”. When we focus on what He wants us to tend to in His Garden, we are rewarded by our efforts as well as the results. Even if we don’t do it quite right, He still appreciates us trying to be like Him in serving His people. Part of the reward is the activity itself.

Good Thomas contrasts all this goodness, not with evil, but rather with that snide, puffed up intellectualism. By memorizing Scripture and waxing eloquently about the Trinity, this character sees that it’s all about him and his smarts. It is simply vanity. Now, this is no condemnation of studying Scripture, or of seeking one’s own mental improvement. However, Studying Scripture does not make you Holy, but living out the words of Scripture does make you holy, like St. Francis said: “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.”

Next time, we’ll look more at how to be profitable, vain, and insensitive (on less than $10 per day!).

Thank you for reading and praying along with me. 'Til next time, be Imitators of Christ!

Hiding Gifts in the Open, and Radical Conformity

First, a few housekeeping items.

I had some technical problems lately, which delayed my post. I had this all written out and then “poof” it was gone. So I’m now typing into Word and uploading.

Second, I will soon be loading a podcast along with each blog post….as soon as I can figure out how to point blogger to the podcast.

Third, after some reflection, I decided to revise the language of The Imitation of Christ just a little to modernize it for ease of reading. I will do my best to keep the tenor and tone the same. But why stress out about the meaning of compunction, for example, when guilt works fairly well? Just so you know, I’m consulting three separate translations (and I gave up on a fourth) to make sure I get the tone and meaning correct. Let me know what you think.

Here’s this week’s post on Bk 1, ch 1, para 2.

Last time, we ended the opening paragraph with this admonition:

Let it be your chief study to meditate on the life of Jesus Christ.

In paragraph 2, Good Thomas brings us to a truth, a problem, and a solution.

2. Christ's teachings surpass all the teachings of the Saints, and if you have His Spirit you will find in that place of teaching, hidden manna (Rev 2:17).


But it happens that many by frequent hearing of the Gospel are not influenced by the Gospels because they do not have the Spirit of Christ in them.


But if you would fully and with feeling understand the words of Christ, you must study to conform your whole life and mind to the mind of Christ.

In the first sentence, Thomas quotes Rev 2:17, which states: “whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I shall give some hidden manna….” This is also an allusion to The Bread of Life discourse (see John 6 ,Yes, the whole chapter).

So the first thing Thomas told us in paragraph 1 was to turn on the light. Now it’s time to look for food with our Holy Flashlight (see last post).

God has fun with us, doesn’t He? He has a sense of humor, not in a teasing way. The manna is hidden in plain sight. It’s in the Gospels. It’s as close as your nearest tabernacle. It’s a prayer away. In psalm 78, the Israelites were pelted with manna! In John 6, Jesus tells us that He is the Bread of Life, and that He’s been here all along, hidden in plain sight. Ever try to make bread in secret? Or hide fresh bread? Impossible! In my house, we’re lucky to get the loaf in the oven without the little birds chirping for dough or pinching the loaf. Once it is baked, they are standing in line for a slice. You can’t hide it! And God doesn’t hide His Gift to us either. He wants us to have His Spirit, His Son, Himself.

The next sentence reveals the frustration of presenting a gift, but the receiver has no idea that the gift is there, or sees the gift as a burden. People see the words of Christ in the Gospel as a burden rather than liberation from earthly pursuits. In a way, this reminds me of Easter Egg hunting with my small ones. They can be looking right at an Easter Egg but not see it. And while I’m shouting and wildly gesturing to them, the walk right by this little gift and walk all the way to the other end of the yard for the one egg they do see. Of course, some other youngster picks it up way before my child arrives. Meanwhile, the eggs rights there have been picked up as well. This sentence also reminds me of when people find out they are expecting a baby, and the difference between those who welcome new life, and those who reject the new life.

The final sentence plays off this theme with a plea to conform not just your life, but your mind as well, to the mind of Christ. When I read this, I thought of the Scripture from Romans 12:1-2:

“I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.

Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Of course, I don’t know if this is what Good Thomas had in mind (pun intended), but it certainly fits the theme. Now where I came from, conformity was something you did not want to do, since it made you like everyone else. But this is RADICAL CONFORMITY. Conforming the life and mind of Christ, as we shall see in the paragraphs and chapters ahead, is a life-long process.  We will look for the narrow gate.

Next time, we’ll look at how to be profitable, vain, and insensitive.

Thank you for reading and praying along with me. 'Til next time, be Imitators of Christ!

tim

Holy Flashlights!

I'm rewinding this week to look at Book 1, Useful Admonitions, Chapter 1:
 The Imitation of Christ, and the Contempt of All the Vanities of the World.
I'll take this paragraph by paragraph to keep it short.

Let's look at the opening paragraph to the opening chapter of the opening book:

"He that follows me, walks not in darkness" says the Lord (Jn 8:12). These are the words of Christ, by which we are admonished, that we must imitate His life and manners, if we would be truly enlightened, and delivered from all blindness of heart.

  Let it then be our chief study to meditate on the life of Jesus Christ.

Thomas pulls this quote from St. John's Gospel where Jesus just embarrassed the Pharisees (again) when they brought the woman, caught in adultery, for Jesus to judge.  The Pharisees did this in an attempt to trap Jesus into proclaiming a judgment that was due under the Law of Moses - death.  Meanwhile, the Romans did not allow anyone to be put to death without Roman authority (thereby trumping Mosaic Law). 

Of course Jesus, unlike you or me, reduces the Pharisees to verbal pulp here by ignoring their threat, writing in the dirt (I'm thinking of my 6 yr old playing in the sandbox, ignoring me, frustrating me as I call him in for dinner).  Jesus then teaches that judgment is God's alone, and that our first act is to open our eyes to the light, His Light, in thought action and yes, even in forgiveness.  And yes, even for THAT. 

In fact, right before this, he says "I am the light of the world." Funny how certain things jump out at me in Scripture from time to time. 

When Good Thomas chose this passage, I pray he was thinking of all of us, being surrounded by a bunch of creeps with stones, ready to blast us for daring to follow THAT MAN.  Makes me want to play in the sand.  I hope my flashlight isn't out of batteries.

Thank you for reading and praying along with me. 'Til next time, be Imitators of Christ!


tim

Will I Will God's Will Willingly?

Will I Will God's Will Willingly?

The end of chapter 3,

Book 1, The Doctrine of Truth

Recall from last week, when we had good Thomas take to task those who seek out learning and schooling for the sake of learning and being honored for their "smarts."

Thomas continues the thread after just announcing that these people are quickly forgotten because their learning and pursuit of truth has been self-centered...not "other centered" or God-centered.  Having missed the opportunity to serve others with their deeds and intelligence, Thomas moves on to tell us:

6. Oh, how quickly does the glory of the world pass away (1 Jn 2:17). 

On the theme above, Thomas is saying - "OK, you're smart, we get it, but you haven't built a legacy of love...at all.  You've built your life on knowledge, but it's knowledge of falsehoods and selfishness, not of truth or goodness or kindness."   It is important to hone in on what is good for our body and our mind and our souls.  Seek out the goodness- the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22)

Would that their lives had been answerable to their learning; then would they have studied and read well.

How many perish in the world through vain learning, who little care for the service of God!

And because they chose rather to be great rather than to be humble, therefore they are lost in their own imaginations.

These three statements are mortal strikes at the lack of accountability rolled into this ego-centric gnosticism.  In his mind, he is a legend, a "rock star" of learning.  Look at last week's post on rock-heads.This reminds me of the person who says "Yes, I've read the Bible, and blah, blah, blah...." He wants the accolades for having done the reading and knowing the text, but is not accountable to it.   It's the difference between the Ten Commandments and the Ten Suggestions.

  
He is truly great who is great in charity (love).

This line is straight out of 1 Cor 13:3, and is a summary restatement of the whole chapter 13 of that epistle.  So, right now think of the great people in your life and how they shared their love with you and with others. Thomas sets up this litany of
"He is truly great who...."

He is truly great who is little in his own eyes and holds as nothing the pinnacle of honor.

He is truly prudent who looks upon all earthly things as nothing that he may gain Christ (Phil 3:8).

How can we take ourselves seriously when we compare our daily "to do" list and achievement of quotas, with establishing a legacy of love and helping others. Learn to hold on loosely, or you will crush what you have captured! What we want finds us when we match our will with God's Will.  God smiles at that moment, and we find ourselves at peace.

And he is very learned indeed who does the will of God and renounces his own will.

And this ends our lengthy reflection on Chapter 3.  Doing God's Will and not our own will leads us to the truth.
 

Thank you for reading and praying along with me. 'Til next time, be Imitators of Christ!

tim

The Doctrine of Truth: Rockheads and Axes

From Bk 1, Ch 3 (The Doctrine of Truth) continued, at paragraph 5.

First, I am having to use an electronic version of The Imitation of Christ from Project Gutenberg, as I’m on the road and left my copy at home. Thanks, Project Gutenberg! Once I get home I’ll edit for clarity as the version I use makes the paragraph below a bit easier to understand. Good Thomas starts off with:

5. O if they would give the same diligence to the rooting out of vices and the planting of virtues to which they give unto vain questionings: there would not been so many evil

doings and stumbling-blocks among the laity, nor such ill living among houses of religion.

Thomas gets to the point in paragraph 5 right away with a plea to quit messing around.  We easily become lax in our daily lives.  We prefer to read about helping others rather than actually doing it, but then, to make matters worse, we then brag of our knowledge of all those suffering people (for example). Playing off of paragraph 4 (see last week’s post), we can see a connection between our thoughts and actions, between our words and our deeds. In Matthew, 3:8-10, St. John the Baptist tells the Pharisees that they can’t call themselves Children of Abraham without some evidence of repentance tied up in real efforts, not just scholarly knowledge of the law:

“Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.

And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “

Bottom line, according to St. John The Baptist: rocks are more deserving of grace than knowledgeable people. At least a rock has a purpose to it and is useful. Rocks aren’t into vain questioning…questioning that shows just how smart we are to the person of whom we are asking the question. Waiting for that praise of “Oh, how insightful!” Maybe we are all rock-heads. Here’s what Thomas is getting at:

Of a surety, at the Day of Judgment it will be demanded of us, not what we have read, but what we have done; not how well we have spoken, but how holily we have lived.

Tell me, where now are all those masters and teachers, whom thou knew well, while they were yet with you, and flourished in learning? Their stalls are now filled by others, who perhaps never have one thought concerning them. Whilst they lived they seemed to be somewhat important, but now no one speaks of them.

This last line reminds me of a song from the 70's by Kansas, called Dust in the Wind. It’s simply presumptuous arrogance to think that what we do day-to-day in our efforts to look important really matter in the scheme of things. Instead of blowing a lot of hot gas, we need to build into people and holy living, says Thomas. I was just trying to recall a single lecture from college. Not to insult my professors, mind you, who I did like and respect, but rather to compare the significance of their words these many years later.

My poor kids will likely not recall any of my many, wisdom filled lectures on a variety of topics. Too bad for them! However, they do recall that I came to their game, coached their soccer, sparred with them at Karate, drew pictures, made clay figures, built chicken coops and so on. Many of these activities are prayerful moments, which is part of what Thomas is getting at here. Not every moment has to be holy-rolling, but planting virtue. We can all do these virtuous things, can’t we? I mean, even if we can’t read or write, we can still build into our kids’ lives or into the lives of our fellow men and women.

Thank you for reading and praying along with me. 'Til next time, be Imitators of Christ!


tim

"This, I Believe"

This post has nothing to do with Thomas a'Kempis, but is just a proud papa moment.

Our daughter Virginia was chosen to proclaim her “This I Believe” essay on WUIS public radio.

Of course we are bragging and think Virginia's is the best, but enjoy the humor and sincerity of Virginia's essay.

http://www.wuis.org/thisibelieve/ Virginia's is about 3/4 the way down the list.
 
Hope you enjoy this and the other talented, thoughtful youths who worked very hard to get their essays together and selected.
 
There's a lot of Christ Imitating going on in some of these essays.  And I know, for sure, in Virginia's. 
 
Until next time, thanks for praying with me.