How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.
Let all your thoughts be with the Most High, and direct your humble prayers unceasingly to Christ. If you cannot contemplate high and heavenly things, take refuge in the Passion of Christ, and love to dwell within His Sacred Wounds. For if you devoutly seek the Wounds of Jesus and the precious marks of His Passion, you will find great strength in all troubles.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of maintaining a close spiritual connection with Christ through prayer and contemplation of His sufferings.
Thomas A Kempis highlights the significance of focusing one's thoughts on the divine and engaging in continuous prayer to Christ. He suggests that for those who find it challenging to contemplate lofty spiritual ideas, seeking solace in the Passion of Christ and reflecting on His Sacred Wounds can provide comfort and strength during difficult times. This devotion not only fosters a deeper relationship with Jesus but also equips individuals to face their struggles with resilience.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon, you might use this quote to encourage the congregation to deepen their prayer life.
More from Thomas A Kempis
All quotes →He will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure.
Trust not to your feelings for whatever they might be now, they will quickly be changed towards some other thing.
Jesus has many who love the kingdom of God, but few who bear a cross. He has many who desire His comfort, but few who desire His suffering. All want to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for Him. He writes; there are many who admire his miracles, but there are few who follow in the humiliation of the cross.
Anyone who thinks hard work will never hurt you has never had to pay to have it done. Jesus now has many lovers of his Heavenly Kingdom, but few bearers of his cross.
He has great tranquillity of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men. He will easily be content and pacified, whose conscience is pure. You are not holier if you are praised, nor the more worthless if you are found fault with. What you are, that you are; neither by word can you be made greater than what you are in the sight of God.
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