by Ariel Ageman
Comment: Thomas a’Kempis introduces us to pursuing an intimate friendship with Jesus. He reminds us of the goodness that attaches to Christ’s friendship: Peace, Grace, Consolation, Purity, Joy, Holy Conversation. Thomas tells us that in experiencing the intimacy of this friendship we will even endure discomfort. We know it will be worth the sacrifice, “for after winter comes summer, after night the day returns, after a storm there follows a great calm.”
Who can you be Christ to this week? Who can you befriend on behalf of our Lord?
Thanks for reading and praying along with me. Until next time, be Imitators of Christ!
tim
The Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 8
On The Intimate Friendship of Jesus
When Jesus is present all is well and nothing seems difficult, but when Jesus is not present everything is difficult. When Jesus does not speak to us within, our comfort is worthless; but if Jesus speaks only one word of comfort, we feel great consolation.
Did not Mary immediately arise from the place where she wept when Martha said to her, “The Master is here and calls for you (Jn 11:28)?” Happy is the hour when Jesus calls you from tears to the joy of the spirit! How dry and hard-hearted you are without Jesus! How foolish and vain you are when you desire anything else beyond Jesus! Is this not a greater loss than if you were to lose the whole world (Lk 9:25)?
2. What can the world do for you without Jesus? To be without Jesus is an
extreme hell, and to be with Jesus is sweet paradise. If Jesus were with you no enemy could hurt you. Whoever finds Jesus finds a good treasure, yes, good above all good; and whoever loses Jesus loses much, yes, more than the whole world. Whoever lives without Jesus is in poverty, and whoever abides with Jesus is among the rich.
3. It is great art to know how to converse with Jesus, and to know how to keep Jesus close is great wisdom. Be humble and peaceful and Jesus shall be with you. Be godly and quiet, and Jesus will remain with you.
You can quickly drive away Jesus and lose His grace if you turn towards outward things. And if you have put Him to flight and lost Him, to whom will you flee, and whom then will you seek for a friend? Without such a friend you cannot live long, and if Jesus is not your friend above all you shall be very sad and desolate.
You act foolishly, therefore, if you trust or find joy in any other. We should wish to have the entire world against us, rather than to have Jesus offended. Therefore of all that is dear to you, let Jesus be especially beloved.
St. Katherine Drexel
4. Let all things be loved for Jesus’ sake, but Jesus for His own sake. Jesus Christ alone is to be specially loved, for He alone is found good and faithful above all friends. For His sake, and in Him, let both enemies and friends be dear to you, and pray for them all that they may all know and love Him.
Never desire to be especially praised or loved, because this belongs to God alone, Who has none like to Himself. Neither desire that any one’s heart should be set on you, nor give yourself up to the love of anyone else, but let Jesus be in you and in every devoted disciple.
5. Be pure and free within yourself, without being entangled by creatures. You ought to bring a bare and clean heart to God, if you desire to be ready to see how gracious is the Lord (Ps 34:9).
In truth, unless you are prevented and drawn on by His grace, you will not attain to this, that having cast out and dismissed all else, you alone are united to God. For when the grace of God comes to a disciple, then that disciple becomes able to do all things, and when grace departs then the disciple will be poor and weak and given up to troubles.
In all these things you are not to be dejected nor to despair; but to rest with a calm mind on the will of God, and to bear all things which come upon you for the glory of Jesus Christ; for after winter comes summer, after night the day returns, after a storm there follows a great calm.