Book 01: Sect. 01: Ch. 21: Sorrow of Heart

[Scout]

Chapter 21: Sorrow of Heart
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/kempis/imitation.ONE.21.html

Scout

[WanderAimlessly]

The fear of the Lord leads to life; and he who has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. (Prov. 19:23) what does it mean to fear the Lord. To be scared of? No. It means to have a healthy reverence for the Lord. A man who says he does not need God, is a fool. If he expects to live a moral an upright life in this day and age without the Lord is opening himself up to temptation without weapons to fight it.

PF

[clinmar]

I am really running behind in the reading, but I am pierced by this Ch. 21

I do not doubt that you would correct yourself more earnestly if you would think more of an early death than of a long life. And if you pondered in your heart the future pains of hell or of purgatory, I believe you would willingly endure labor and trouble and would fear no hardship. But since these thoughts never pierce the heart and since we are enamored of flattering pleasure, we remain very cold and indifferent. Our wretched body complains so easily because our soul is altogether too lifeless.

It's true that most of us love the false pleasures of this world. But I struggle with the concept of worldly comforts being such a pain to us.

Where is the Joy of the Lord? Jesus came that we have life more abundantly. How does this square with this chapter?

I have simplified my own life and turned away from the desires of my earlier years for pleasure, comfort and worldly "treasures", but I find that to be freeing and not a burden. I am losing my fear of hardship and willingly endure whatever suffering comes my way. Suffering and sorrow is our lot in life. It comes to every single person. Fortunate are we who have the Triune God to walk through every trial with us. The Joy of this Divine companion is our Strength.

mej

[wisdom 3:5]

Originally Posted by clinmar

It's true that most of us love the false pleasures of this world. But I struggle with the concept of worldly comforts being such a pain to us.

Where is the Joy of the Lord? Jesus came that we have life more abundantly. How does this square with this chapter?

mej

Jesus gives us His peace "not as the world gives it : Jn 14:26

Would our joy be the same as peace? Joy in the Lord and not in earthly pleasures? So that when the earthly pleasures are taken away, and they will, we don't collapse but realize we have more than what it was we lost.