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meditation of the day

Giving to God Our Whole Livelihood

Praise the Lord, my soul, from whom all good things come and who lives now and forever; it is to him that you are to refer all things as the beginning and end of all that is good. It is with much gratitude that you are to offer him heartfelt praise, so that his gifts of heavenly grace may again and more abundantly come upon you until you arrive at the source of eternal life, the land of everlasting light, and the glorious vision of the divine presence.

Indeed, there is nothing better for you, nothing more salutary or sweeter or more joyful or more worthy or higher or happier or more perfect or more blessed than loving God most ardently and praising him most sincerely. This I say a hundred times, and I repeat it a thousand times more. There is no duty more commendable, no occupation more worthwhile than to love and praise God, your Creator and Redeemer, and this with your whole heart, with your whole mind, and with all your strength. Do this as long as you breathe, move, and think. Do this in word and deed, day and night, morning, noon, and evening, every hour and every moment. Always hold fast to God, completely and entirely, as much as you are physically and mentally able, so that God may be all in all to you, that he may be always and eternally loved, blessed, praised by you, highly exalted above all and before all, and that you may be united to him forever.

Therefore, faithful soul, exult in the Lord your God as the Blessed Virgin Mary exulted in Jesus, her Savior…. Give yourself to God—all that you have, all that you do, all that you know, and all your talents—and you will be dearer to him than ever before and richer, too. Say with Saint Paul, having nothing for ourselves, yet possessing all things in God (2 Cor 6:10). Though poor, base, and despicable to this world, nevertheless, rich and always rejoicing in the Lord (1 Thes 5:16), assured that there is laid up for me a crown in heaven (2 Tm 4:8).

Venerable Thomas à Kempis

Thomas à Kempis († 1471) was a German priest and monk who wrote many spiritual works. / From On the Passion of Christ: According to the Four Evangelists: Prayers and Meditations, Joseph N. Tylenda, s.j., tr. © 2004, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA. www.ignatius.com. Used with permission.