Day 2. The Imitation of Christ. Bk 1, Ch. 8-14. Facing Temptations and Adversity.

A little more in depth in reading TKIC a second time. His words are timeless and priceless gems, and always relevant.

• Are temptations and adversity unavoidable in this life?
• How do you face them courageously? Do you:
• Obey God?
• Watch your words?
• Resist temptation?
• Embrace God’s fiery love?

• Ch. 8: Avoiding being overly familiar. Do not open (reveal) your heart to everyone (Sir 8:18). Do not be familiar with any one particular woman (Sir 9:2-3, 8, 9, 1-13). [Familiarity is not always the best route. Wisdom is required.]

• Ch. 9: Obedience and subjection. It's better to live under obedience and humbly be in submission than to exercise authority (1 Pet 1:5-6). Leave behind your own way of thinking for the sake of peace. Don't be too confident in your own opinion. Be willing to listen to the opinion of others. [Do you trust yourself when you are in a position of authority? Love, honor and obey.]

• Ch. 10: Needless (unnecessary) words. Why is it that we are so ready (fond) to speak, and rare to return to silence? Because we seek consolation from one another through mutual speech. External consolation is no little detriment to internal divine consolation. Watch and pray (Mt 26:41) not to waste time (spend our time in fruitless idleness). [Do you or I need to have an opinion on everything?]

• Ch. 11: Seeking peace and progressing in zeal. Do you mingle the care of others with your own? Look after situations that have nothing to do with you? Focus on daily progress [especially after digressing]? Find that you better and purer at the beginning of your conversion than after many years of profession? Are you completely mortified of all earthly desires? Too occupied with your own passions and too worried about passing things? The whole great impediment is that we are not free of passions and desires and not trying to enter the perfect way of the saints. Purified from passions we may possess peace of mind. Do yourself a little violence at the beginning [or at present], then afterwards work becomes lighter and with joy. It is hard to let go of old habits, but even harder to go against one's will. Unlearn (break) your bad habits. [Do you find yourself often distracted? Easily discouraged? Always resist your inclination at the beginning.]

• Ch. 12: The benefit of adversity. It is good to have hard challenges (endure misfortunes) and resistance (adversities), since they call a person back to his heart, helping him recognize that he is in exile and should not put his hope in (rely on) anything the world has to offer. It is good when you suffer people speaking against you. This aids humility and defends you from vainglory (pride). [Do not just white knuckle it, but really work at and fight adversity and temptations. (Jn 15:5)]

• Ch. 13: Resisting temptations. [There is no place on earth where temptation does not exist {not even in prison!} For the reason we're (I'm) tempted is within us (me). Wherever I go I'm bringing myself.] Resist beginnings. Be especially vigilant at the beginning of a temptation, because that is when it's easier to conquer. The maladies will get worse over a long time. Confront it at the doorstep before it enters the door of your mind. First, a simple thought comes to mind, then a strong imagining (embellishing), later enjoyment (something quite desirable), a perverse impulse (powerful attraction) and finally ascent (the will's consent). The longer one puts off resisting, the weaker he grows each day, and the enemy becomes stronger against him. Some suffer serious temptations at the beginning of their conversion, some at the end, and some are unwell throughout their whole life. [Do I fight temptation when I'm almost completely defeated already OR at the beginning? Do you flee them or fight them?]

• Ch. 14: Avoiding rash judgment. Take care not to judge others, but judge and analyze yourself. Often there is something hidden within us. Many are secretly seeking themselves in their activities. They are good when things go well. But if not, they are quickly upset and become sad. It is hard to let go of an old [bad] habit, and no one is readily led beyond his own perspective. God wills us to be perfectly (completely) subject to him, and who transcend all reason through fiery (passionate) love. [Do you rely more on your reason or effort than on your virtue at the service of Christ?]

10/23/25. TKIC. Facing Temptation and Adversity (Day 2: Ch. 8-14). Fr. Mike Schmitz.

• Ch. 8. Do not open your heart to every person. Do not be familiar with any one woman (Job 31:1).

• Ch. 9. It's better to live under obedience and humbly be in submission than to exercise authority (1 Pet 1:5-6).

• Ch. 10. You do not need to speak up and give your opinion on everything (Isa 42:2; Mt 12:19).

• Ch. 11. To be at peace, don't be distracted by other people who are not your responsibility (2 Thess 3:11; 1 Tim 5:13).

• Ch. 12. Tough troubles, trials, tribulations and temptations are very good for your inner peace (Heb 5:8).

• Ch. 13. To have peace, understand that no one, however holy, will ever be totally free of temptation (1 Cor 10:13).

• Ch. 14. Do not ever rush to judgement about anyone (Mt 7:3-5).