Being imitators of Christ and getting to know Thomas `A Kempis on his feast day!

Good Evening Dear Family of God and Love!

Happy Monday! I hope that you managed to get through this the first day of the week. I have been thinking about how wonderful was and is that God has made us and is making people in God's image and likeness. Today is the feast day of Thomas A` Kempis and he wrote THE IMITATION OF CHRIST. What does it mean to be an imitator of Christ? To me it means following Christ in his footsteps with love and courage. Each day as we put into practice the De-Cluttering challenge I find myself more and more remembering how to let go of things and perceptions. I am opening my eyes, heart, and spirit and seeing God in every face and spirit. Some of these faces need a lot more work at their imitating of Christ than others but they are family none the less. Tonight's lessons are especially pointed towards that direction. As the celebrant sometimes says as a proper preface at The Holy Eucharist on the feast days of Saints :"Because in the obedience of your saints you have given us an
example of righteousness, and in their eternal joy a glorious pledge of the hope of our calling."

Let us begin with our mindfulness breathing exercise.

Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know
Be still
Be

Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know
Be still
Be

Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know
Be still
Be

Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting
up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the
Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth
tremble before him. Psalm 96:9


O Gracious Light Phos hilaron

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.


Let us open up our heart homes and pray with God's love energy. Let us light our Candles and pray with joy and light.


God we open up our heart homes and light our candles and pray with love. We pray that we may love our family members deeply, broadly, unconditionally with hope, joy, peace, and love energy. We pray for an end to indifference, hatred, violence, and division. We pray that we may re-educate ourselves to practice radical hospitality, attitudes of gratitude, random acts of kindness, and that we may do in the words of the Prophet Micah- "To do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God" We pray that we may focus our lives towards the loving care and in service to the least of these. We pray with loving hearts for our family members who have lost their lives in acts of terror of all kinds. We pray that we may light our candles in solidarity and love for those who are mourning and struggling with life's dark times. We pray that we may be light shiners, love givers, joy bringers, hope bearers, and peace makers. We light our candles as we pray for those things that are heavy on our hearts and lay them on the broad and loving shoulders of God Amen. 


“Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of its trouble, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse for impossibility, for it thinks all things are lawful for itself and all things are possible” 
― Thomas à Kempis

“Wherever you go, there you are.” 
― Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ


 Psalm 33 Exultate, justi

1 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous; *
it is good for the just to sing praises.

2 Praise the Lord with the harp; *
play to him upon the psaltery and lyre.

3 Sing for him a new song; *
sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.

4 For the word of the Lord is right, *
and all his works are sure.

5 He loves righteousness and justice; *
the loving-kindness of the Lord fills the whole earth.

6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, *
by the breath of his mouth all the heavenly hosts.

7 He gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a water-skin *
and stores up the depths of the sea.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; *
let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spoke, and it came to pass; *
he commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The Lord brings the will of the nations to naught; *
he thwarts the designs of the peoples.

11 But the Lord's will stands fast for ever, *
and the designs of his heart from age to age.

12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! *
happy the people he has chosen to be his own!
13 The Lord looks down from heaven, *
and beholds all the people in the world.
14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *
on all who dwell on the earth.

15 He fashions all the hearts of them *
and understands all their works.

16 There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army; *
a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.

17 The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; *
for all its strength it cannot save.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, *
on those who wait upon his love,

19 To pluck their lives from death, *
and to feed them in time of famine.

20 Our soul waits for the Lord; *
he is our help and our shield.

21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *
for in his holy Name we put our trust.

22 Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, *
as we have put our trust in you.

Bear the Cross cheerfully and it will bear you. Thomas a Kempis

Ecclesiastes 9:11-18

11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favour to the skilful; but time and chance happen to them all. 12For no one can anticipate the time of disaster. Like fish taken in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them.
13 I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed important to me. 14 There was a little city with few people in it. A great king came against it and besieged it, building great siege-works against it. 15 Now there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16So I said, ‘Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.’ 
17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
   than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
   but one bungler destroys much good.

Never be entirely idle; but either be reading, or writing, or praying or meditating or endeavoring something for the public good. Thomas a Kempis

The Song of Moses Cantemus Domino
Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18
Especially suitable for use in Easter Season
I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *
the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *
the Lord has become my Savior.
This is my God and I will praise him, *
the God of my people and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a mighty warrior; *
Yahweh is his Name.
The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *
the finest of those who bear armor have been
drowned in the Red Sea.
The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *
they sank into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *
your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.
Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *
who is like you, glorious in holiness,
awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?
You stretched forth your right hand; *
the earth swallowed them up.
With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *
with your might you brought them in safety to
your holy dwelling.
You will bring them in and plant them *
on the mount of your possession,
The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *
the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.
The Lord shall reign *
for ever and for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.


How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves. Thomas a Kempis

Ephesians 4:32-5:2

³²and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.^* 5¹Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, ²and live in love, as Christ loved us^* and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God

The Song of Mary Magnificat

Luke 1:46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him *

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, *

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, *

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers, *

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as It was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

First keep peace with yourself, then you can also bring peace to others. Thomas a Kempis

Luke 6:17-23

17 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. ¹⁸They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. ¹⁹And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.

20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
‘Blessed are you who are poor,
   for yours is the kingdom of God. 
²¹ ‘Blessed are you who are hungry now,
   for you will be filled.
‘Blessed are you who weep now,
   for you will laugh.

22 ‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you^* on account of the Son of Man. ²³Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.

“All men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace.” 
― Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

21 You are God Te Deum laudamus
You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not shun the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.

“Jesus has now many lovers of the heavenly kingdom but few bearers of His cross.” 
― Thomas à Kempis, Imitation Of Christ

The Song of Simeon Nunc dimittis
Luke 2:29-32
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

“Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good; Love alone lightens every burden, and makes the rough places smooth. It bears every hardship as though it were nothing, and renders all bitterness sweet and acceptable. The love of Jesus is noble, and inspires us to great deeds; it moves us always to desire perfection. Love aspires to high things, and is held back by nothing base. Love longs to be free, a stranger to every worldly desire, lest its inner vision become dimmed, and lest worldly self-interest hinder it or ill-fortune cast it down. Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God, and can rest only in God above all created things.

Love flies, runs, leaps for joy; it is free and unrestrained. Love gives all for all, resting in One who is highest above all things, from whom every good flows and proceeds. Love does not regard the gifts, but turns to the Giver of all good gifts. Love knows no limits, but ardently transcends all bounds. Love feels no burden, takes no account of toil, attempts things beyond its strength; love sees nothing as impossible, for it feels able to achieve all things. Love therefore does great things; it is strange and effective; while he who lacks love faints and fails.” 
― Thomas à Kempis, The Inner Life

      Prayer attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen.

Here are three prayers of Thomas `A Kempis

How to Rest in God Alone Above All Things

Grant me, most dear and loving Jesus, to rest in you above created things; above health and beauty, above all glory and honor; above all power and dignity, above all knowledge and skill; above all fame and praise, above all sweetness and consolation; above all hope and promise, above all merit and desire; above all gifts and favors that you can bestow and shower upon us; above all joy and jubilation that the mind can conceive and know; above angels and archangels and all the hosts of Heaven; above all things visible and invisible; and above everything that is not yourself, O my God.

O Lord, my God, you transcend all things.  You alone are most high, most mighty, most sufficient and complete, most sweet and comforting.  You alone are most full of beauty and glory, in whom all good things in their perfection exist, both now and ever have been, and ever will be.  All, therefore, is too small and unsatisfying that you can give me beside yourself, or that you can reveal and promise me of yourself unless I can see and fully possess you.  For my heart cannot rest nor be wholly content until it rests in you, rising above all your gifts and creatures.

O Lord Jesus Christ, spouse of the soul, lover of purity, and Lord of creation, who will give me wings of perfect liberty, that I may fly to you, and be at rest?  When shall I be set free, and taste your sweetness, O Lord, my God?  When shall I become recollected in you, that for love of you alone in a manner not known to all men, and above all perception and measure?  But now I mourn and bear my unhappy lot with grief, for many evils happen in this vale of sorrows, which often disturb, sadden, and darken my path.  They often hinder and distract, entice, and entangle me, so that I cannot approach you freely, nor yet enjoy the sweet embrace which you prepare for the souls of the blessed.

O Jesus, brightness of eternal glory and comfort of the pilgrim soul, hear my cry, and regard my utter desolation.  Words fail me in your presence; let my silence speak for me.  How long will my Lord delay his coming?  Come to me, Lord, poor and little as I am, and bring me joy.  Stretch out your hand, and deliver me from all my misery and pain.  Come, Lord, come, for without you no day or hour is happy; without you my table is without its guest, for you alone are my joy.  Sadness is my lot, and I am like a man imprisoned and loaded with chains, until you refresh me with the light of your presence, and show me your face as my friend.  Let others seek whom they will besides you, but nothing ever can or will give me joy but yourself alone, my God, my hope, and my eternal salvation.  I will not keep silent, nor cease from urgent prayer till your grace returns and my heart leaps at the sound of your voice.

Amen.

A Prayer for the Grace of Devotion

O Lord, my God, you are my all and every good.  And what am I, that I should presume to address you?  I am the poorest of your servants and a wretched worm, far more poor and worthless than I can ever realize or express.  Yet, Lord, remember that I am nothing: I have nothing, and can do nothing.  You alone are good, just and holy; you can do all things, fill all things, bestow all things, leaving only the wicked empty-handed.  Remember your mercies, Lord, and fill my heart with your grace, since it is your will that none of your works should be worthless.  How can I endure this life of sorrows, unless you strengthen me with your mercy and grace?  Do not turn your face from me; do not delay your coming, nor withdraw your consolation form me, lest my soul become like a waterless desert.  Teach me, O Lord, to do your will; teach me to live worthily and humbly in your sight; for you are my wisdom, who know me truly, and who knew me before the world was made, and before I had my being.

Amen.

On the Wonderful Effect of Divine Love

Deepen your love in me, O Lord, that I may learn in my inmost heart how sweet it is to love, to be dissolved, and to plunge myself into your love.  Let your love possess and raise me above myself, with a fervor and wonder beyond imagination.  Let me sing the song of love.  Let me follow you, my beloved, into the heights.  Let my soul spend itself in your praise, rejoicing for love.  Let me love you more than myself, and myself only for your own sake.  Let me love all men who truly love you, as the law of love commands, which shines out from you.

Love is swift, pure, tender, joyful, and pleasant.  Love is strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, vigorous, and never self-seeking.  For when a man is self-seeking he abandons love.  Love is watchful, humble, and upright; love is not fickle and sentimental, nor is it intent on vanities.  It is sober, pure, steadfast, quiet, and guarded in all the senses. Love is submissive and obedient to superiors, mean and contemptible in its own sight, devoted and thankful to God, trusting and hoping in him even when not enjoying his sweetness; for none can live in love without suffering.

Whoever is not prepared to endure everything, and to stand firmly by the will of the beloved, is not worthy to be called a lover.  A lover must willingly accept every hardship and bitterness for the sake of his beloved, and must never desert him because of adversity.

Amen.


Let us close with Prayers from two years ago!

Now imagine each of us placing a warm prayer quilt of love around each other.  We pray this prayer: 

God we pray and ask you to help us to envision a warm prayer quilt of love that will give us all loving comfort by imagining being wrapped tightly by each other in loving service to you and to each other. 
We :
Imagine it enfolding us with love.

Imagine it making us feel safe from harm

Imagine it giving us strength when we feel weak.

Imagine it healing us through warm thoughts and loving prayers.

Imagine it feeling like home
Imagine it enfolding us when we feel, lost, lonely alone, and invisible.

Imagine it feeling like Gods arms enfolding us with love, light, and mercy.

Imagine it feeling like Jesus' redeeming and healing graces.

Imagine it feeling like the Holy Spirit being the Holy Comforter.

Imagine it feeling like it being encircled and wrapped around each other 
uniting us and not dividing us.

Imagine it wrapping our family members who are ill with the warmth and healing balm. 

Imagine it wrapping the world in justice, mercy and with God guiding us in the pathways of peace.

Imagine it comforting all of us who are grieving.

Imagine it wrapping our dear departed loved ones for their journey home to the Thin Places.

Imagine it enfolding the least of these who are without food, clothing, and shelter.

We imagine it being made of stitched prayers of love, joy, hope, and peace.

We imagine the prayers that are being said as we wrap each other in the prayer quilt we choose for each other.

We imagine it enfolding our family members who long to feel accepted lovingly and authentically for who they and we are.

We pray that as we imagine we may feel the presence of God our Creator, Jesus our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit Holy Comforter. We lift up these our prayers to you O God with warm, loving, and compassionate hearts and heart homes. Amen.


Here is the second set of prayers that may be added.

Tonight let us pray for the least of these and our family members who are feeling lost and alone.

Jesus, we come to you this night asking you to lift up the lonely, lost, and those who feel unloved and outcast. Help us to draw them into  your circle of love and fellowship where they will find peace and a loving family waiting for them.

Jesus, we pray for peace in the holy places where you walked, preached, healed, were there for those who  were outcast, blind, and not welcome in any town. We pray for peace in all of the Holy Land  and a return to holiness and we pray for the leaders of  Israel, Palestine, Syria, and Iraq that they may remember that they are all family members under Abraham and the awesome responsibility that comes with that.

Jesus, help us to be there for our family members even when it seems difficult to do so. 

Jesus, heal all  of our family members who are ill and we name them now before you with love________________

Jesus, help us to grow in the Fruits of the Spirit and reap abundantly the harvest that you have planted.

Jesus, help us to sew seeds of faith, hope, and love and that we may may show these throughout our lives and  in our daily living.

Jesus, help us to be good stewards of God's Cathedral of Life.

Jesus, we pray for all refugees, strangers, immigrants of any kind and especially the unaccompanied children who have been set on a dangerous road to freedom.

Jesus, help us to be lights to this broken world and to each other.

Jesus, be with those who mourn  and we pray that we may follow your example of compassion, love, and yes even weep as you wept at the tomb of Lazarus.

Let us pray the words of the Beatitudes

When Jesus* saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely* on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Jesus, may we rest gentle in your arms this night and always .

We lift up these our prayers to in Jesus' Name . Amen.

Jesus we remember this day Thomas A'Kempis:
Holy Father, you have nourished and strengthened your Church by the inspired writings of your servant Thomas a Kempis: Grant that we may learn from him to know what is necessary to be known, to love what is to be loved, to praise what highly pleases you, and always to seek to know and follow your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

From HOLY WOMEN, HOLY MEN 


Concluding Sentence

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to
generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.
Amen. Ephesians 3:20,2

PRAYER BY THOMAS À KEMPIS – GROW IN FAITH

Give us, O Lord, steadfast hearts that cannot be dragged down by false loves;

give us courageous hearts that cannot be worn down by trouble;

give us righteous hearts that cannot be sidetracked by unholy or unworthy goals.

Give to us also, our Lord and God, understanding to know You,

diligence to look for you,

wisdom to recognize You,

and a faithfulness that will bring us to see You face to face.

— Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

The Wisdom of God

the Love of God
and the Grace of God
strengthen you
to be Christ’s hands and heart in this world,
in the name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.

(source: Celtic)

++++++

Good Night Dear Ones! Let us de-clutter our lives so that we can see God in our neighbor, enemy, and ourselves! Let us follow Jesus on His Journey and be imitators of his. Follow Him in Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy and let us take up our crosses and follow Him day by day.  I love you and give thanks to God for you this day and always.


With love and seeing God in all of you this night and always,

Sara

Resources:
Thomas A'Kempis quotes and prayers all over the web.
BrainyQuote
Good Reads
PrayerPower.com
Prayers of Thomas A`Kempis- The Value of Sparrows
Book of Common Prayer
Holy Women Holy Men
Satucket Lectionary

F.Y.I !
Here is the biography of  our Saint of the Day! Thomas a` Kempis