Lectio et Oratio

We read about the importance of gratitude, thanksgiving. The more grateful we are, the more disposed we are to receive more graces from God. Being ungrateful renders us unable to receive graces from God. God wants us to recognize what he has done for us. He wants us to make a response of love for his gifts of love. How? By joining ourselves to the human models of gratitude, Jesus and Mary.

Why does Christ "mix things up," sometimes consoling us and sometimes seemingly withdrawing consolation from us?

To encourage us and to humble us. In this chapter, Thomas a Kempis explains why Christ allows us to go through periods of spiritual dryness, lacking all consolation. He explains why God also gives us comforts, consolations. Thomas a Kempis explains how we are to act in both times. His advice in this chapter is incredibly useful and has been of great influence on later saints, like St Philip and St Ignatius of Loyola. May we profit from this golden chapter!

What does Christ especially offer us?

His friendship. In this reading, Thomas a Kempis describes the advantages that Christ's friendship offers us. He describes the comfort, strength, and peace that we experience from his presence and his voice within us. Thomas a Kempis helps us understand our own experience of turning to outward things apart from the will of God. We seem to lose contact with the Lord. We pull away from being close friends with him. Our love for Christ must lead us to do the will of this greatest of friends. We love nothing with the absolute love we show to Christ. We love Christ in everything by following His will in all we do.

Is there any object to whom we can give our hearts completely?

Yes, Jesus. In this reading, Thomas Kempis proposes that there is only one object in this world that can be loved above all things. There is only One who will never let us down. There is One in whom all the love of our heart is designed to go towards. This is the One whom St Thomas the Apostle touched. This is the One he called, "My Lord and My God."

Will the approval of other human beings ever give us true satisfaction?

No. In this reading, Thomas a Kempis tries to persuade us about the emptiness of mere human approval. He wants to persuade us of the great value of having a clear conscience. Conscience is the voice of God echoing in our minds. When God approves our actions, we have true satisfaction of heart.

We read about the danger of criticizing others and finding fault with others. Instead of staying at home and seeing our own faults we waste time, lose peace, and forget about God. We go out and set ourselves up as the judge of others. How little evidence we truly have for our judgments! If only we believed more and more in the greatness and infinity of God!

How do we make progress in our relationship with God?

Purity of mind and singleness of intention. In this reading, Thomas a Kempis shows us the kind of intention we need as we approach God. We must have in mind His will and our neighbour's good. But having this intention requires us to have a pure heart. So many things depend on the state of our affections. The world "seems" to us as our heart desires. Our heart influences our judgments of the world. How we need the Lord to purify our hearts.

We read about the important of peace of heart. We cannot have peace with others if we are not at peace with ourselves. Having a good conscience, being right with God, is a gift. But having peace of heart is only the foundation. Being a truly peaceable person requires us to put up with all kinds of people, not only the ones who are kind to us. How do we find the way to be at peace with very difficulty people? Much grace!

What is a real sign of spiritual growth?

Considering others as better than ourselves. In this reading, The imitation urges us not to worry so much what other people think of us. He tries to persuade us that it does not matter so much whether this or that person agrees or disagrees with us. Is God on our side or not? In fact, is it not sometimes very valuable for our spiritual lives when human beings neglect us?

We read the long opening chapter of book 2 of The Imitation of Christ. Thomas a Kempis puts before us the main goal of book 2: interior union with Christ. We are not just imitating Christ from the outside. We want to have a taste of his own interior states. We want to Be like Christ within so that we can act like he acted.