So I’ve decided for Lent that I’m going to do some daily reflection on the Imitation of Christ, a set of reflections written by Thomas A Kempis in the 15th century. For this Lenten season I’m going to focus on the book of Imitation that has to do with interior conversion. I’ll be posting my thoughts on these reflections daily, so if you’re looking for something to add to your Lenten spiritual journey, I encourage you to read along with me, comment with your thoughts, and join me in this journey through to Easter.

 

I. THE INWARD CONVERSATION OF CHRIST WITH THE FAITHFUL SOUL

I WILL hear what the Lord God will speak in me.”[24]

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.

So: Blessed are those who can hear the Lord speak to them through all the noise that this world gives us. This, though, is hard to do– the talk of the world and away from religion stretches far and wide and can cover one’s eyes, like a veil, to the truth. It is our responsibility as Christians to fight that veil, to look inwardly, to look deeper, and see and hear for ourselves what God’s intentions truly are. Even this, however, can be quite challenging, as things that are even just a little bit worldly, while sometimes good, could also be turned on us as a cause for sin. We should concentrate on listening to what God says, maybe in some time in quiet prayer… by just letting God speak, rather than us speak to Him, we may be able to more fully listen and understand God’s intentions and words to us. And do the best that you can– by doing what is good and right in God’s eyes, you’re well on the way to something eternally good and right.

 

–jl–