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Posted on 09/06/2007 7:28:01 AM PDT by Salvation
Prudence in Action - Imitation of Christ
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DO NOT yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God's will. For very often, sad to say, we are so weak that we believe and speak evil of others rather than good. Perfect men, however, do not readily believe every talebearer, because they know that human frailty is prone to evil and is likely to appear in speech.
Not to act rashly or to cling obstinately to one's opinion, not to believe everything people say or to spread abroad the gossip one has heard, is great wisdom. Take counsel with a wise and conscientious man. Seek the advice of your betters in preference to following your own inclinations. A good life makes a man wise according to God and gives him experience in many things, for the more humble he is and the more subject to God, the wiser and the more at peace he will be in all things. |
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
BY
THOMAS KEMPIS
A very powerful spiritual guidance for the soul who seeks to imitate Jesus Christ.
Learn from me, because I am meek and humble of heart. Mat. 11:29
This is one of those short-short reflections that I talked about. A power-packed gem!
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| Thursday, September 6, 2007 Feria |
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**Not to act rashly or to cling obstinately to one’s opinion, not to believe everything people say or to spread abroad the gossip one has heard, is great wisdom.**
This poses a problem to me sometimes on FreeRepublic. Grabbed my attention this morning.
“If someone seeks for success and pleasure, comfort and glory in this world, then he loves the wisdom of this world. But if someone struggles for what is contrary to these things - if he suffers, practices self-control, and endures all kinds of affliction and disgrace for the kingdom of heaven - then he loves the wisdom of God. The first longs to attain material benefits, secular learning and secular power, and often suffers on this account; but the second shares the sufferings of Christ. Thus the first places all his hopes in the things of this world, desiring to possess them even though they are transitory and hard to come by; while the second is hidden from ‘the eyes of the foolish’, as Holy Scripture puts it (Wisd. 3:2), but is clearly revealed in the world to come, when everything hidden is disclosed. +Peter Damaskinos
Thanks for that quote. Is he a saint? A writer?
St. Peter of Damaskos was very much a saint and is considered an Eastern Father. After +Maximos the Confessor, he has the most writings included in the Philokalia. He was a monk and wrote for other monks and lived in the 11th and 12th centuries. He is very widely read in the East and also among Western monastics and theologians.
Just learned my tidbit for the day. Thanks.
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