Isaiah 58:9-14
Luke 5:27-32
Thomas a Kempis wrote in the fifteenth century,
“What do you seek here, since this world is not your resting place? Your true home is in heaven; therefore remember that all the things of this world are transitory. All things are passing, and yourself with them.
“See that you do not cling to them, lest you become entangled and perish with them. 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.
“And if people despise you, you will care little, having small regard for the words of your detractors.
“Christ himself was despised by his people, and in his direst need was abandoned by his friends and acquaintances to the insults of his enemies. Christ was willing to suffer and to be despised; and do you presume to complain?
"Christ had enemies and slanderers; and do you expect all to be your friends and benefactors? How will your patience be crowned if you are not willing to endure hardship? Suffer with Christ, and for Christ, if you wish to reign with Christ.”
Isaac Watts wrote this hymn in the eighteenth century:
“When I can read my title clear to mansions in the skies, I'll bid farewell to ev'ry fear and wipe my weeping eyes.
“Should earth against my soul enagage, and fiery darts be hurl'd, then I can smile at Satan's rage, and face a frowning world.
“Let cares like a wild deluge come, and storms of sorrow fall, may I but safely reach my home, my God my heaven, my all.
“When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise, than when we first begun.
“This world is not my home, this world is not my home, this world's a wilderness of woe, but heaven is my home.”
Martin Buber has written that,
“In the hundred and nineteenth psalm, the psalmist says to God: 'I am a sojourner on the earth, hide not your commandments from me.'
“Concerning this verse Rabbi Barukh said: 'The one whom life drives into exile and who comes to an alien land has nothing in common with the people there and not a soul to talk to.
'But if a second stranger appears, even though that person may come from quite a different place, the two can confide in each other, and live together henceforth, and cherish each other.
'And had they not both been strangers, they would never have known such close companionship. That is what the psalmist means: "You, even as I, are a sojourner on earth and have no abiding place for your glory. So so not withdraw from me, but reveal your commandments, that I may become your friend."'"
Posted by John
at 12:01 AM CST