Good Morning, Everyone!
Before the day sounds through the rafters of my mind like bats in the belfry, before entering the fray myself, I’m making room for another voice:
My Imitation of Christ, Book III, Chapter I by Thomas a’ Kempis:
The Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul
I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me.”Blessed is the soul who hears the Lord speaking within her, who receives the word of consolation from His lips. Blessed are the ears that catch the accents of divine whispering, and pay no heed to the murmurings of this world. Blessed indeed are the ears that listen, not to the voice which sounds without, but to the truth which teaches within. Blessed are the eyes which are closed to exterior things and are fixed upon those which are interior. Blessed are they who penetrate inwardly, who try daily to prepare themselves more and more to understand mysteries. Blessed are they who long to give their time to God, and who cut themselves off from the hindrances of the world. Consider these things, my soul, and close the door of your senses, so that you can hear what the Lord your God speaks within you. “I am your salvation,” says your Beloved. “I am your peace and your life. Remain with Me and you will find peace. Dismiss all passing things and seek the eternal. What are all temporal things but snares? And what help will all creatures be able to give you if you are deserted by the Creator?” Leave all these things, therefore, and make yourself pleasing and faithful to your Creator so that you may attain to true happiness.
My favorite line:
“Blessed are the ears that catch the accents of divine whispering, and pay no heed to the murmurings of this world.”
These verses from Chapter 51 of Imitation of Christ speak to my prayer vs world experiences and fluctuations:
“My Son, thou art not always able to continue in very fervent desire after virtues, nor to stand fast in the loftier region of contemplation; but thou must of necessity sometimes descend to lower things because of thine original corruption, and bear about the burden of corruptible life, though unwillingly and with weariness. So long as thou wear a mortal body, thou shalt feel weariness and heaviness of heart. Therefore thou ought to groan often in the flesh because of the burden of the flesh, inasmuch as thou canst not give thyself to spiritual studies and divine contemplation unceasingly.”
“At such a time it is expedient for thee to flee to humble and external works, and to renew thyself with good actions; to wait for My coming and heavenly visitation with sure confidence; to bear thy exile and drought of mind with patience, until thou be visited by Me again, and be freed from all anxieties. For I will cause thee to forget thy labors, and altogether to enjoy eternal peace. I will spread open before thee the pleasant pastures of the Scriptures, that with enlarged heart thou may begin to run in the way of My commandments. And thou shalt say, ‘The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.‘”
Another day in which to praise the Lord. So again we begin. That’s how I feel, that I am always at the beginning, trying to live just one day as I ought. In this day and age, many people despise the word “ought.” It may be that “ought” presumes some actual Truth and Lawgiver. How gosh in this so sophisticated an age. Though finding the Truth does wonders for our compass. Take Communion: “The Bread that I will give is My flesh, for the life of the world.” John 6:52 “This is My Body, that is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” 1 Cor 11:24 This morning once again I will receive the Lord of Lords in Holy Communion. At least, today, since I am thinking about it out loud, I can see that on most mornings I do this with little thought. Here is how Thomas a’Kempis put it:
Solomon, the wisest of the kings of Israel, spent seven years building a magnificent temple in praise of Your name, and celebrated its dedication with a feast of eight days. He offered a thousand victims in Your honor and solemnly bore the Ark of the Covenant with trumpeting and jubilation to the place prepared for it; and I, unhappy and poorest of men, how shall I lead You into my house, I who scarcely can spend a half-hour devoutly — would that I could spend even that as I ought!
O my God, how hard these men tried to please You! Alas, how little is all that I do! How short the time I spend in preparing for Communion! I am seldom wholly recollected, and very seldom, indeed, entirely free from distraction. Yet surely in the presence of Your life-giving Godhead no unbecoming thought should arise and no creature possess my heart, for I am about to receive as my guest, not an angel, but the very Lord of angels.
Not to be deterred, I remember,too, Jesus’ words, “Come to Me. all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you.” Matt 11:28 I am often my biggest burden but I have great hope for me. Is it any wonder with so generous a God?
The Joy of a Good Conscience (Bk2,Chap6):
Be Holy! 