Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Book 4 Chapter 18: That People Must Not Curiously Search into This Sacrament, But be Humble Followers of Christ, Always Submitting Their Senses to Holy Faith

“Beware of curious and useless searching into this profound Sacrament, if you do not wish to sink into the depths of doubt.”

Today is the final chapter in The Imitation of Christ.  Thomas a Kempis provides a warning so as not to lead us into a position of doubt.  Sometimes things with in the church are so complex they are considered a mystery because they are beyond human comprehension.  The Eucharist is the greatest of all mysteries within the church. Thomas is trying to telling us not to waste the effort trying to understand this mystery because it’s only fruit is doubt.  We must learn to accept these gifts purely for what they are because “God’s powers are greater than humans can comprehend.”  You should always seek the truth and seeking the truth in the Eucharist can lead to a deeper longing for God.  However, seeking to fully understand this mystery is trying to fully comprehend God.  We have to realize that God is beyond comprehension because he exists beyond our reality.  It is good to meditate on his majesty as long as we do it in a “humble and docile way”.  We must be willing to be drawn into the mystery so we can experience the wonder and awe of His majesty.  Unfortunately, many people have lost their way because they are unable to comprehend this mystery.  Because it does not make sense, they abandon God and what they knew in their heart to be true.  If we cannot fully understand the universe, how can we fully understand God who exists beyond the universe?  This is a tool of Satan.  He knows that we feel the need to know all.  This desire to know all is the pride that lead our first parents to each the fruit of knowledge.  Because they wanted to be God, they ate the fruit.  We must learn not to worry or to “argue with our thoughts”.  We must denounce this temptation.  Instead, we should focus our thoughts on the Word of God, believe in the heroic nature of His Saints and Prophets.  These are where our faith will grow. Studying His words will allow you to understand why the Saints and the Prophets developed an unconditional love for God.  “All reason and natural inquiry must follow faith, never precede or question it.” We only need to know that faith and love are the fruits of the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.  These fruits work in and allow us to accept His mysteries.

A Simple Prayer

O Lord, You are God and I am not. absolutely mysterious and hidden way.  The eternal and incomprehensible God is incomprehensible.  It is our faith that

Allow me to accept this so my faith will grow.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon