Thursday, August 11 : The Imitation of Christ

You have here “no lasting city,” (Heb 13,14); wherever you are, you are a stranger and a sojourner; you will never at any time have peace until you are intimately one with Christ. Why in this world do you search to right and left, when this is no place for your repose? You ought to be living the life of heaven; a wayfarer despising all earthly things. Everything perishes and so do you. Cling not, lest you be caught and perish. Let your thoughts be in the presence of the Most High, your prayer sent up to Christ unceasingly. If you cannot gaze upon high heaven, then repose in the sufferings of Christ, and dwell gladly in his sacred wounds. For if with devotion you escape to the wounds of Christ and to his stigmata beyond price, then you will know great comfort in affliction; you will not much mind being despised by men, and will easily endure malicious gossip. Christ too was in the world despised by men; in time of greatest need he was left by friend and acquaintance to be taunted alone. Christ was ready to suffer and be spurned; have you the impudence to make a complaint?… Hold up for Christ’s sake with the help of Christ, if you would reign with Christ. If you had once gone right inside Jesus and had tasted a little of his burning love; then you would care not at all for your own good or ill-convenience, but rejoice to be taunted; for the love of Jesus makes a man despise himself. The lover of Jesus and of truth, the truly inward man, he who is no slave to disordered feelings; he it is who can freely turn to God, raising himself above himself in spirit and taking joy in rest. The true man of taste, taught more of God than of men, is he on whose tongue things taste as they are; not as they are said or esteemed to be.
maronite readings – rosary,team