Lectio et Oratio

Episode 98 -- Imitation of Christ IV.1 -- On the Deep Reverence with Which Christ is to be Received

In chapter 1, Thomas a Kempis begins his great discussion of the Holy Eucharist. Book 4 is dedicated to the Holy Eucharist. How we need this saving food. How it makes present in every time and place the Lord of Lords both in his humanity and his divinity. What mercy. What love.

Episode 97 -- Imitation of Christ III.59 -- All Our Hope and Trust Must Be Place in God Alone

On what can we truly rely in this life?

Our Lord alone. Thomas a Kempis does not deny that friends and books can be of help. But when Our Lord is not standing beside us, no one else can truly give us peace or comfort. This advice about turning to Christ alone is the final advice of book 3 of the Imitation of Christ.

Episode 96 -- Imitation of Christ III.58 -- About God’s Secrets: Not Seeking into His Unfathomable Judgments

In chapter 58 Thomas a Kempis speaks about the need to limit our desire to understand things that are beyond us. Two things are singled out as dangerous for us to seek to understand. The first is the ultimate reason why certain trials occur. The Lord gives us some understanding, but what he wants more than are academic discussions of his ways of acting is a loving acceptance of his mysterious will. The second issue to avoid speculating about is the relative greatness of the saints. In heaven, they do not compare themselves to each other. They are too busy lost in the life of the Trinity, too busy loving and being loved. Let us imitate them even now.

Episode 95 -- Imitation of Christ III.57 -- A Man Should Not be Too Depressed when He Slips into a Fault

In chapter 57 Thomas a Kempis talks about the situation when we are spoken to in a sharp and hurtful way. Often this will happen after we have made a mistake. We will be tempted to be discouraged by such a stinging rebuke. But Thomas a Kempis encourages us to take such things in stride. Let us not be too worried about what people think of us and say about us. Let us seek to truly do the will of the Lord. Let us ask for the grace to care more what the Lord thinks.

Episode 94 -- Imitation of Christ III.56 -- We Must Deny Ourselves and Follow Christ Along the Way of the Cross

In chapter 56, Thomas a Kempis draws our attention to the need to deny ourselves if we want to follow the Lord. Christ's life must be the main study of our life. By encountering Christ in the Scriptures and in the Eucharist, we receive the grace to put his teachings into practice. How we need to encourage each other. How we need to remember why we have undertaken a life of prayer. We live for Christ.

Episode 93 -- Imitation of Christ III.55 -- On the Corruption of Nature and the Power of God’s Grace

In chapter 55, Thomas a Kempis distinguishes the corruption of human nature from the power of God's grace. Because of original sin, our nature has evil propensities, which draw us to sin. One of the consequences of original sin is the lack of order in the powers of our soul. Our nature is not totally corrupt. We still have a longing for God, but uncontrolled self-love so often makes us forget the primacy of God. We forget that our true selves are only found in him. But along side our tendency to sin is the dynamic power of God's grace that inspires us and leads us to live like God. We need God's grace at the beginning of every good work, during every good work, and at the completion of every good work. Apart from Christ and his grace, we are nothing in the supernatural order.

Episode 92 -- Imitation of Christ III.54 -- Grace versus Nature

In chapter 54, Thomas a Kempis makes 17 brief points about the distinction between nature and grace. He draws our attention to the opposition in how grace works and how nature works. In the end, grace is the principle of living for God and all our efforts to deny ourselves. Grace is what keeps our souls aimed at heaven. Grace inspires not to count the cost of following Christ. Grace makes us willing to give up all that keeps us from holiness of life. What is grace? A supernatural gift, a light, help that God gives to enable us to live as his adopted children. Grace introduces us into the intimacy of the divine life, the life of the Trinity.

Episode 91 -- Imitation of Christ III.53 -- God’s Grace Does not Mix with Worldly Wisdom

Does God's wisdom and worldly wisdom mix?

No. Thomas a Kempis points out that God's wisdom in our souls makes us give up anything and everything that stands in the way of our union with Him. There is something radical about what God's love will ask of us. The wisdom of the world always makes us think that we can make this life what is most important. In the end this world passes away. In the end, our relationship with the Lord is what matters. The great thing is to die to oneself and live for God.

Episode 90 -- Imitation of Christ III.52 -- Thinking We Deserve Punishment and Not Consolation

What should we think we deserve from God: consolation or punishment?

Based on all our personal sins: punishment. Thomas a Kempis lays out some reasons why we deserve punishment for our sins. To deserve is to be owed something. What do all our sins and infidelities deserve? What is due to us for turning from God? Punishment is not something primarily externally imposed. Punishment especially arises from the disorder of our actions. When we act contrary to what we are, made in the image of God, children of God, called to glory, then there are consequences that are painful. Painful consequences that follow bad actions and make up for the disorder of the action are called punishments.

Episode 89 -- Imitation of Christ III.51 -- Busy Ourselves with Humble Tasks When Consolation is Lacking

Thomas a Kempis gave us good advice on how to act when our longed for spiritual desires and prayer seem to escape us. He wants us to have the proper expectations about the Christian life. Much of the time we will not feel great desires for holiness. We will not be lost in contemplation. But we must ask the Lord to help us use our time well. We must busy ourselves with good and humble work.

Episode 88 -- Imitation of Christ III.50 -- Putting Ourselves in God’s Hands in Times of Trouble

Thomas a Kempis encourages us to turn to God in all our troubles. We will face troubles. We will face interior troubles and exterior troubles. Our hope cannot be in ourselves or any other mere man. Yes, God makes use of human instruments. Yes, Christ acts through his servants. But it is Christ, God the Son, in whom we must place boundless trust. He cannot deceive or be deceived.

Episode 87 -- Imitation of Christ III.49 -- On Longing for Eternal Life and the Trials that Lead There

Thomas a Kempis speaks to us about heavenly promises. He put before us the true glory of heaven. He wants us to think about heaven and what peace will be there so that we will desire it. The will desires what the mind, the intellect presents to it as worthy of love. Let us ponder heaven more and more. At the same time, we must be willing to fight for heaven. Our fight is against ourselves, our fallen nature. But the Lord is at our side to give the victory.

Episode 86 -- Imitation of Christ III.48 -- On the Joys of Eternal Life and the Troubles of This Life

What is the difference between eternity and our time in this world?

This life has many sufferings and changes. In this reading, Thomas a Kempis lays out many of the differences between the eternal life we long for and our life here below. Part of this chapter is an effort to encourage us to persevere in the fight. He admits his own constant distractions in prayer. He admits many of his own struggles. Let us take heart!

Episode 85 -- Imitation of Christ III.47 -- All Troubles Must Be Borne for the Sake of Eternal Life

We read about the need to bear all troubles for the sake of Christ. Having told us the secret to making the trials of this world more sweet, Thomas a Kempis urges us on with considerations of what heaven is like. The more we ponder the joy, the freedom, the peace of heaven, the more we will long for heaven in our hearts.

Episode 84 -- Imitation of Christ III.46 -- On Bearing Stinging Remarks from Others

We read about how to react to stinging comments from others. This chapter especially is useful for those who have a disordered concern for impressing other people. Thomas a Kempis helps us recognize the source of our excessive sadness upon receiving criticism.

Episode 83 -- Imitation of Christ III.45 -- We Should Not Believe Everyone and How Easily it is for Words to Slip Out

Thomas a Kempis warns us about putting too much trust in human beings. Christ alone is to be fully trusted. He alone will never let us down. Yes, we all need to be trusted. Yes, we can trust others. But in the end, we are trustworthy when we are close to Christ.

Episode 82 -- Imitation of Christ III.44 -- On Not Being Concerned with Outward Things

We read about trying to focus less on outward things and more to what pleases God within our hearts. How we need to know what things take away our peace of mind. How we need to be careful in what we think about, what we read about, and what we talk about. Our main concern is being concerned with God and His will for our lives.

Episode 81 -- Imitation of Christ III.43 -- A Condemnation of Useless and Wordly Learning

We read about the danger of useless and worldly learning. Thomas a Kempis longs for his readers to study their own hearts. He does not want us to study and learn just to be able to tell others about created realities. Such study is not bad in itself. What does it matter, however, if we know all about the stars and nothing about our own motivations. What if we know everything about the human body, but nothing about how the soul truly works? How we need to know how to direct our lives to eternity!

Episode 80 -- Imitation of Christ III.42 -- Our Peace of Mind Cannot Depend on Men

We read about the true source of peace of heart. We cannot make our peace of heart depend on one particular human person. Yes, we need friendships. Yes, we need one another's help. But friendship and human love cannot be sustained without the grace and love of Christ Jesus. He not only saves us from sin, but He saves our loves by his divine love.

Episode 79 -- Imitation of Christ III.41 -- On Despising this World’s Honours

We read about the need to despise worldly honours. Such honours are meant to recognize human excellence. Honours are not bad in themselves. But Thomas a Kempis is urging us onto holiness. He wants us to view all honours of this life in light of God. If we are to be honoured, how much more must God be honoured? If I want real appreciation, I must find it in God.