When We Cannot Attain to the Highest, We Must Practice the Humble Works
When we cannot attain to the highest, we must practice the humble works and trust in God's promise to visit us and free us from anxieties.
Thomas a Kempis preaches about the challenges of maintaining spiritual fervor and contemplation in the midst of the burdens of earthly life. He encourages embracing humility, engaging in good deeds, and patiently enduring dry seasons while waiting for God's visitation. Kempis emphasizes finding solace in Scripture, advancing in obedience to God's commandments, and looking forward to the future glory that surpasses all present sufferings.
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THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, you cannot always continue in the more fervent desire of virtue, or remain in the higher stage of contemplation, but because of humanity's sin you must sometimes descend to lower things and bear the burden of this corruptible life, albeit unwillingly and wearily. As long as you wear a mortal body you will suffer weariness and heaviness of heart. You ought, therefore, to bewail in the flesh the burden of the flesh which keeps you from giving yourself unceasingly to spiritual exercises and divine contemplation.
In such condition, it is well for you to apply yourself to humble, outward works and to refresh yourself in good deeds, to await with unshaken confidence My heavenly visitation, patiently to bear your exile and dryness of mind until you are again visited by Me and freed of all anxieties. For I will cause you to forget your labors and to enjoy inward quiet. I will spread before you the open fields of the Scriptures, so that with an open heart you may begin to advance in the way of My commandments. And you will say: the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the future glory which shall be revealed to us.
Sermon Outline
- The Human Condition
- The Burden of the Flesh
- Applying Ourselves to Humble Works
- Patience and Trust
- Bear our exile and dryness of mind patiently
- Trust in God's promise to visit us and free us from anxieties
Key Quotes
“For I will cause you to forget your labors and to enjoy inward quiet.” — Thomas a Kempis
“I will spread before you the open fields of the Scriptures, so that with an open heart you may begin to advance in the way of My commandments.” — Thomas a Kempis
Application Points
- When we feel worn out and unable to pursue spiritual exercises, we should apply ourselves to humble, outward works.
- We should refresh ourselves in good deeds and trust in God's promise to visit us and free us from anxieties.
- Patience and trust are essential in times of exile and dryness of mind.