The words above are in Kempis’s opening section in this chapter on how truth speaks within us (3,2).  Here he echoes several Old Testament themes.  Of particular note is the second part which finds its origins in Deut 32:2.  We are also reminded of the miraculous manna in the desert that appeared nearly every day — after the dew evaporated — to the hungry and complaining Israelites in Exodus (see Ex 16; more on this below).

Jesus continues His Last Supper discourse today focusing on obeying the commandments (Jn 14:21-26).  One cannot authentically claim to love Jesus and not obey Him.  By keeping Christ’s words (that is, keeping the life of grace alive in us by not mortally sinning), we have the promise of the indwelling of the Trinity (Father and Son are mentioned above, the Holy Spirit [who “will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you”] is mentioned at the end of the reading).

Kempis’s sentiments may well have been in the hearts of many of the men celebrating Passover with Jesus.  This was a difficult time for everyone in the room and certainly they were seeking, in a special way, understanding of Jesus’ testament through docility of their troubled hearts.  The Eleven, at least, truly loved the Lord, so would have been heartened to hear about the indwelling of God even if they did not understand how this would be accomplished; they would experience this very soon that evening, though.  Jesus, as the new and perfect Manna, was about to give them His very self in the first Eucharist that He celebrated.  But He had been giving Himself to them in word their entire time together over the past three years.  His preaching was to settle like dew in their hearts turning into the true manna that comes from heaven.

We, too, should never miss an opportunity to show our love for Christ by inviting Him into our very being in Word and Sacrament at the Mass, and also through study and devotional reading of Scripture, alone or with friends, while asking the Lord to be with us often in spiritual communion.

Talk is cheap (see Mt 7:21).  Our love for Christ is demonstrated through our actions. Let us always be docile and accepting of the truth of the Word so that we never lose the life of grace within us.

Detail from Institution of the Eucharist (1441) by Fra Angelico

The next chapter of Thomas à Kempis’s The Imitation of Christ is entitled “How Truth Speaks within Us without Noise of Words” (3,2).  The words above are in the closing section, repeating the first words of the chapter.  Kempis urges us to be like Samuel in the Old Testament who responds to the mysterious voice that he finally understands to be God calling him: “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam 3:9-10).  We are to invite the Lord to speak directly to our hearts the “words of eternal life.”

Today’s reading is an extended version of the reading from just two days ago.  It is the beginning of Jesus’ Last Supper Discourse in John (14:1-12).  Friday’s excerpt ended with the words above.  Today, Jesus goes on to explain the relationship between Himself and the Father to His apostles who lack understanding.  The Father is in Jesus and Jesus is doing the Father’s will.  Jesus will be returning to the Father so that the apostles can do even greater deeds than they witnessed Jesus performing.

Jesus, in today’s Gospel, gives us the perfect ground and program for relating to Him.  He is the way we must follow by accepting the truth of divine revelation (He is the Word) in order to attain eternal life.  Yes, we are to ask the Lord to speak to our hearts and then listen attentively to His message for us.  We listen at prayer, while reading Scripture, while studying the Faith, and while being advised by persons aligned with the Church.  So, Jesus speaks to us in various ways.  Let us always be attentive to the authentic voice of the savior so that we, like Samuel and Peter (see Jn 6:68), will never hesitate to confess (and live) the truth that Jesus is Lord and Savior who came to offer us everlasting life with the Trinity.

Kempis continues to warn against worldly voices that contradict the truth or, much more prevalent in recent times, deny there even is objective truth (3,1).  God has given us a conscience (our interior student) to help us know the truth.  But it must be informed by the Church (certainly not the world) to follow the proper path.

Today’s first reading (Acts 13:44-52) is from the chapter of Acts in which the Lord sends Paul (with Barnabas) on his first missionary journey.  Immediately preceding today’s excerpt, Paul gave a long speech in the synagogue in Antioch covering salvation history through the Resurrection and appearance of Jesus afterward (the early part of this speech was proclaimed at yesterday’s Mass).  From this they were asked to return the following Sabbath to preach further.  And their evangelization gained the two men followers.  Due to the Jewish religious leaders’ jealousy in the popularity of Paul and Barnabas, when they returned, they “with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said” and ultimately stirred up enough dissension to drive them from the city.  Yet, per the excerpt in the headline, the Gentiles who embraced the truth of the disciples’ mission “[a]ll who were destined for eternal life came to believe.”

The prominent Jews made a lot of noise in trying to dissuade Paul’s hearers of the truth of his message.  Those with ears to hear, and hearts open to God, were delighted to receive these holy men and embrace (and help spread) the Good News.  The Gentiles were cut to the heart, receptive to the Word, and thus were on the road to salvation.  Interiorly they were moved while shunning the exterior noise of dissenting voices.

Do not let your hearts be troubled (Jn 14:1)

Good advice from Our Lord that we heard at yesterday’s celebration.  Let us never allow the voice of the world to dissuade, confuse, or disturb us from the truth no matter how cacophonous it becomes.  And may we never be reluctant “to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for [our] hope” (1 Pt 3:15).

Paul and Barnabas at Lystra (1592/3) by Jacob Pynas

Kempis here is talking about interior conversations with Christ (3,1).  How important it is that we are attuned to the Lord’s communication with us!  It is the perfect remedy for the “whispers of the world” that want us to focus on anything but the divine.  How to best be open to this?  Kempis, later in the chapter, speaks of “shut[ting] the doors to sensuality, so that you may hear what the Lord your God says inside of you.”  Yes, a love for silence is necessary for intimate communion with the Trinity.

In today’s Gospel we get the beginning of the famous Last Supper discourse extending over several chapters (Jn 14:1-6).  Jesus gives the apostles wonderful news in their trepidation: “Do not let your hearts be troubled”!  Keep the faith and He will lead you home in the end.  What is the way to the Father in heaven?  Jesus is “the way” because in Him is found “the truth” and through Him we have the possibility of eternal “life.”

Unlike Jesus’ apostles, the vast majority of the faithful have had to rely on interior conversations with the Lord Jesus.  He certainly wishes to communicate with us in this way, and Kempis helps us to be disposed to His voice.  But, remember that Christ speaks to us in many ways.  His words in Scripture (the Word’s words) are timeless.

Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. (Heb 4:12)

Have recourse to regular quiet time with the Lord.  Speak as you would to a friend (see Jn 15:15).  And find inspiration in the Bible, as well.

[T]he “Word” of God [is] a word which is “not a written and mute word, but the Word is incarnate and living” (CCC 108)

Being the “living” Word because Jesus lives, Scripture speaks to us in all our needs, and delivers the message we need in every circumstance.  In it we find the truth of the way to life, a “sweet murmur of divine inspirations” countering the forked-tongue hiss of the “whispers of the world.”

Christ Exhortation to the Twelve Apostles (between 1886 and 1894) by James Tissot

Today we begin Book III of Thomas à Kempis’s The Imitation of Christ.  This longest of the four books that comprise this work is entitled, “Of Interior Consolation.”  The first chapter is “The Interior Conversation of Christ with a Faithful Soul.”  The first line of the first chapter of the third book is found above.  A good way to begin, no?  If we want to understand God’s will for us we need to hear it.  If we long to converse with God, it must be a discussion, not a monologue.   If we desire contemplation and inspiration, we must be attentive interiorly while shutting out worldly noise.

Happily, in beginning this new book of the Imitation, we also kick off several weeks of working through The Book of Glory, chapters 13-20 of John’s Gospel which opens with the Last Supper.  Today we read of the aftermath of Jesus’ washing of the feet of the apostles (an episode only found in John) (Jn 13:16-20).  Jesus’ opening words in this excerpt direct the apostles to imitate Him.  If it is not beneath Jesus, the King of Kings (see 1 Tim 6:15), to act as a servant/slave (as it was normally the job of such a one to perform such a menial task as foot washing) were His closest followers to consider it beneath them to do the same?  And what was their reward for being the servant of all: “blessed are you.”  Jesus then, somewhat obscurely, predicts His betrayal as proof that He is “I AM,” that is God, and then declares these men sent.

Yes, it is the best advice we can receive to “hear what the Lord God” says to us.  This means more than just hearing but really listening.  It is an active listening that should lead us to action.  Like the apostles in the upper room, we too are sent, looking to our Master for guidance, and following in His footsteps.  He closes this section with these words: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me.”  This double amen is used occasionally by Christ (see here for an interesting overview) for additional emphasis, a particularly hearty “listen up!”  If we want to be received as Our Lord we must present ourselves as He would present Himself.  Sometimes that leads to praise and admiration, more often in the Gospels, it leads to opposition and scorn.

No slave is greater than his master.

Christ Washing the Feet of the Apostles (1475) by Meister des Hausbuches

Kempis (2,12) does not hesitate to frequently reiterate the necessity of imitating Christ (thus the title of the book).  Conforming ourselves to Jesus is an ongoing challenge — living an authentically Christian life is difficult, made even more so by a culture that is increasingly militating against objectively true moral values.  In a paradox, this increasing difficulty — and the persecution that may come with it — is actually a vehicle to allow us to draw closer to Christ by accepting this cross without complaint and in a manner that our Lord embraced it and carried it to His execution.

Today’s Gospel reading (Jn 12:44-50) brings us to the very end of the so-called “Book of Signs,” that is, the first part of John.  Jesus has just made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Many have come to believe, even authorities and Gentiles, but the Pharisees remain hard-hearted toward Jesus and His message.  Today’s passage is Jesus’ last plea before Passover (and the Last Supper) to the people to accept Him and His message that, He emphatically declares, comes from God the Father.  The consequences of rejecting God have eternal ramifications, as we read at top.

The two quotes in the headline are a study in contrasts: what we are to do and what we are to avoid in relating to Jesus.  The two concepts that jump out at us in today’s reflection are Word and Cross.  These are inseparable.  The Word was made flesh (see Jn 1:14) to accomplish our redemption through the wood of the Cross.  Jesus’ whole life was leading to this (see Jn 12:27).  If we accept the Word we must accept the Cross.  All of Scripture speaks of Christ since it and He are one.  All creation waited with bated breath for the coming of the Messiah.  We are the beneficiaries of that event.  So let us know the Word well through prayer and reading so that we can accept the Cross well when it is placed on our shoulders.  Then we will be conformed to Christ and need not fear rejection on our judgment day.

The Last Judgment (1541) by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, Rome

Kempis sees suffering as the way we conform ourselves most closely to Jesus (2,12).  To grow to love trials and tribulations is what he calls us to do for love of Christ.  A heavenly reward awaits, certainly, but its benefits accrue here as well in our interior disposition and exterior example.

As we continue to work through the Acts of the Apostles (11:19-26) in these heady days of the Easter Season, we read about the evangelization efforts of the first Christian disciples.  Having been “scattered by the persecution,” their efforts extended further more quickly than they had anticipated.  Yet previous difficulties and the possibility of future tribulations does not deter them in proclaiming the Good News.  Their efforts, guided by “[t]he hand of the Lord,” resulted in “a large number of people [being] added to the Lord.”

What a joy it must have been for these early disciples to find through their persecution the openness of so many Jews and Gentiles to this new Gospel that they were charged with proclaiming.  They felt and witnessed “the great fruit which … derives by bearing his cross.”  Is there a higher consolation than knowing that by word and example that we are bringing others to Christ as is our calling (see Mt 28:18-20)?

Many times in these posts, the promise of suffering, and thus the necessity of suffering, has been emphasized.  Why let these difficulties, that will undoubtedly come our way, go to waste?  Rather, let us unite our sufferings with Christ’s for the sake of His kingdom.

St Peter Preaching (1426-1427) by Masolino da Panicale

This whole chapter in Kempis (2,12) has to do with the inevitability of suffering and the way we are to be disposed to it whenever we encounter it.  The good news is that if we persevere as Christ did we have the promise of life eternal with Him.

In today’s Gospel (Jn 10:11-18), Jesus’ “Good Shepherd” discourse continues.  What makes for a good shepherd?  That he lay down his life for his sheep.  So Jesus is not speaking metaphorically here (although I would argue there is an aspect of this in the constant difficulties He encountered in His public ministry and in general in aligning His will entirely with the Father’s).  Jesus knew that His mission would end in death, freely accepted.  He also knew that death would not have the last word.

Because of the Paschal Mystery — the Passion, death, and Resurrection of Jesus — we too have confidence that the end of our earthly lives marks the beginning of eternal life.  Jesus took up His own life and so we are secure in the knowledge that He will take up ours as well.  But, as worthy imitators of Christ we don’t forget that He said the following:

Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory? (Lk 24:26)

As athletic coaches are wont to shout: “No pain, no gain!”  We know that we will be companions with Christ in death — it is our inevitable fate.  We must also be His companions in suffering to enter into His glory.

Lord grant us the grace to suffer well for love of you and your Church, the Body of Christ.

Woman on Her Deathbed (1883) by Vincent van Gogh

The final chapter in Book Two of Thomas à Kempis’s The Imitation of Christ is entitled “Of the Royal Road of the Holy Cross” (2,12).  In a nutshell, Kempis tells us in this long chapter that suffering is the lot of human life; how we handle it informs us very much of our eternal destiny.  Today’s quote highlights this truth splendidly.

Today’s second reading (1 Pt 2:20b-25) has Peter appealing to servants/slaves to bear their hardships uncomplainingly, as Jesus did.  He concludes with a paragraph clearly referring to Isaiah 53‘s Suffering Servant.  Their suffering was anticipated and endured by Christ for their sake — He understands better than anyone the meaning and effects of  tribulations.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,^* take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mt 16:24)

The Lord Himself was clear as to what was involved and expected of His followers (we are all called to be servants/slaves of Christ).  Peter undoubtedly harkened back to the words of his Master in writing his epistle.  The head of the apostles had already suffered much for the Faith, and the worst (or best, from a salvation perspective) was yet to come.

Suffering of any kind is not easy, but it will come.  We need to constantly implore the Lord to bear it well and unite it to Him for the salvation of souls (including our own).  It is not without purpose that Paul said:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church… (Col 1:24)

What a privilege that Jesus invites us to participate in His work.  Lord, give us the grace and the strength to recognize this and embrace it for love of you and your people.

(Read Pope St. John Paul II’s beautiful apostolic letter on redemptive suffering here.)

Kempis is, of course, right on the money, when he says that being close to the Lord is much easier and more appealing when one is satisfied in body and spirit and when he is contemplating heaven (2,11).  Yet, bring on desolation, suffering, and difficulties, and Jesus is often forgotten (at best — “I will take care of this myself”) and tossed aside (at worst — “where is God in all this mess?”).

Today, the Bread of Life discourse is wrapped up (Jn 6:60-69).  Jesus, challenging His followers to set their sights higher, that is, on spiritual matters, finds that many are unable to do so, thus they leave Him to go back to their previous lives.  Peter, representing the twelve apostles, remains steadfast in His trust of his Master, most certainly not understanding much, if anything, He just conveyed, but demonstrating faith in the man to whom he had grown very close and whom he had come to know so well.

Adversity comes part and parcel with authentic Christian living.  In a culture that continues to grow increasingly hostile toward the Truth (see Jn 14:6, Jn 18:38, and Rom 1:18-32), we must not find following Jesus too “hard.”  Rather, we are to stand firm in our resolve to embrace the Lord’s will for us, which includes showing our belief in Him by obeying His commands.  No compromise is permitted in this regard.  When we are challenged within and without to abandon Jesus, to return to a life without Jesus, we must eschew such a temptation.  Like Peter, we must declare:

Master, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
We have come to believe
and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.

Still from Jesus of Nazareth