Kempis on: Imitating Christ & Despising All Vanities on Earth

 

(Yuck. Look at that picture. If I wore that I'd have to kick my own butt!) 

Okay, let's get serious.

"HE WHO follows Me, walks not in darkness," says the Lord (John 8:12).

Imitation of Christ is a book, composed of 4 books. Book 1 is titled, THOUGHTS HELPFUL IN THE LIFE OF THE SOUL. This book contains 25 short chapters. 

Wisely, in my opinion, Thomas selects vainglory as the first attribute to address. His thought was, one must understand that the road to humility is blocked by vanity. So, what is vanity?

When we began attending a brand new parish in Charlotte, I volunteered for everything: parish council, extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, lector, catechist and many committees. But, I didn't do it out of charity, I wanted to be noticed. "Hey, look at me. See what I'm doing in the name of the Lord?" I was vain. I eventually did not like myself and began praying for humanity. But, it took many years. Was I praying the right prayers? Was I even praying hard enough? 

I do not pray for intellect, I pray, through the intercession of the Venerable Bishop Fulton Sheen, for wisdom. Kempis says the greatest wisdom is to seek the kingdom of heaven. I want to go to heaven. I'm not afraid to die (although the pain of dying is a little disconcerting). If I live a virtuous life, I know I will go to heaven. 

Some words from Kempis:

Now, there are many who hear the Gospel often but care little for it because they have not the spirit of Christ. Yet whoever wishes to understand fully the words of Christ must try to pattern his whole life on that of Christ.

Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone.

So, what things are vain? Kempis made a list.

• to seek and trust in riches that perish.
• to court honor and to be puffed up with pride.
• to follow the lusts of the body and to desire things for which severe punishment later must come.
• to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides.
• to wish for long life and to care little about a well-spent life.
• to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come.
• Often recall the proverb: "The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing." Try, moreover, to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God.

What produces vanity in each of us? Pride! We all know, or should know, that pride is a deadly sin. In fact it is considered, by most, #1 on the list. Even a humble person will, at times, allow a little bit of pride to rear its ugly head (like when I get too preachy). I had a very good priest, one time in the confessional, call it subtle pride. Kempis calls it hidden pride. I am very careful how I speak to people, the words I use and the posts I write. As that good priest told me, "Jesus couldn't convert everyone, why do you think you can?" Oh so true!

Although this post is not about humility (the next one will be, from Chapter 2), here's an example. I wrote a book, published in 2018, about the 10 steps I took to become a true Catholic Christian and make myself complete with Jesus Christ. In that book I was so transparent that people questioned me as to why. I answered by telling them to be authentic, I had to tell the truth. The result was not riches, like money, but the richness in humility. Even my wife questioned why I would scrutinize myself by writing about an emotional affair I had. She wasn't concerned about her, the victim, but what people might think of me. To quote St John Chrysostom, "We must not mind insulting men, if by respecting them we offend God"

Each of us must recognize what is keeping the fullness of God's Love from our hearts. Do we have the wisdom Kempis speaks about regarding heaven? Paraphrasing St. John of the Cross, it is necessary to disconnect ourselves from those earthly things that have no value of helping each of us to get to heaven. I have detached myself from the love of earthly things that don't have a virtuous value and giving even more attention to God.

Remember the three theological virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity. Don't let vanity block our goals of salvation.

Until next time, may God grant you peace.