Kempis on: Reading the Holy Scripture

  

St. Jerome: "Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ."

It could be argued that I prefer Thomas Kempis "Imitation of Christ" to Holy Scripture. Nothing could be farther from the truth. There is no better way to know and understand God, God's Love and His Son Jesus Christ than reading the Bible. What many seem to forget is the human part of Jesus, who suffered all of the emotions we suffer. He offered each and every one up to His father in Heaven. He was glorified, yet persecuted. He was accepted, yet betrayed. He was understood and misunderstood at the same time. Yet, He set the best example possible as to how we must lead our lives.

This was the influence on Thomas Kempis. 

Brother Kempis wrote this book in a monastery for his fellow Brothers. Not only did he write, but led by example. We may not live in a monastery as we know it and we are not part of such a brotherhood, but, in the great scheme of things, God's plan. We live in a world where we depend on one another. It is each of our responsibilities to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and follow Him, to help one another get to heaven.

As valuable as Holy Scripture is in our lives, supplements exist. It is wrong to think of Sacred Scripture as the only source of our faith. A doctrine, held by Protestants, believes in sola scriptora, meaning by scripture alone. Ironically, this doctrine is not found anywhere in the Bible. (If it was, all Protestants would understand the Holy Eucharist, per John, Chapter 6.) Still, nothing compares to God's Word.

 

Keith Nester, a former evangelical minister, now Catholic explained it this way: "If sola scriptura was true, why did Jesus need to explain the meaning of the Old Testament to his followers?" Further, per St. Augustine, "If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself." As an example and referring to the Gospel of John, Chapter 6, Jesus told his disciples that we must eat His body and drink His blood. 70% of Catholics do not believe in the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. When asked why I do, I tell them "because Jesus said it so." 

In Chapter 3, I commented on Kempis' "Doctrine of Truth".  A humble person is open to God's Truth, Truth that is contained in Holy Scripture. In Chapter 5, Kempis wrote that "Truth, not eloquence, is to be sought in reading the Holy Scriptures; and every part must be read in the spirit in which it was written. However, he also writes that we ought to read simple and devout books as willingly as learned and profound ones. We ought not to be swayed by the authority of the writer, whether he be a great literary light or an insignificant person, but by the love of simple truth."

People who know me, and you may surmise by now, I am a simple person with a simple mind. There is much in Holy Scripture that I need explained. This is why I read, to the best of my humble ability, books that explain passages in the Bible. It took me three times to read, and then to comprehend, the New Testament. Even then, however, there are books like Romans and Revelations that cause me to say, "Huh?" 

Recalling the book "Imitation of Christ", Kempis reminds us that "Men pass away, but the truth of the Lord remains forever. God speaks to us in many ways without regard for persons. If you would profit from it, therefore, read with humility, simplicity, and faith, and never seek a reputation for being learned. Seek willingly and listen attentively to the words of the saints."

I feel badly for those who don't believe in praying to the saints, and in particular our Blessed Mother, for their intercessions. Every single night, I ask our Blessed Mother for the intercession of the Church Suffering (purgatory), St. Joseph and St. Francis for my protection and continuing conversion, the Venerable Fulton Sheen for wisdom and, of course, Thomas Kempis for humility. Then, as I'm falling asleep, I remember as many saints as possible. 

Lastly, and back to scripture, every Christian book I've read references passages from the Bible. It is how we should imitate Christ.

Until next time, May God give you peace.

@KempisStudent