The Forty-First Chapter
Contempt for All Earthly Honor
The Voice of Christ:
MY CHILD, do not take it to heart if you see others honored and advanced, while you yourself are despised and humbled. Lift up your heart to Me in heaven and the contempt of men on earth will not grieve you.
The Disciple:
Lord, we are blinded and quickly misled by vanity.
If I examine myself rightly, no injury has ever been done me by any creature; hence I have nothing for which to make just complaint to You.
But I have sinned often and gravely against You; therefore is every creature in arms against me.
Confusion and contempt should in justice come upon me, but to You due praise, honor, and glory. [Dan 9:7; Baruch 1:15]
And unless I prepare myself to be willingly despised and forsaken by every creature, to be considered absolutely nothing, I cannot have interior peace and strength, nor can I be enlightened spiritually or completely united with You.
[Imitation of Christ, Book Three. Public Domain]
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