Thomas à Kempis advises, “Turn your eyes upon yourself, and avoid passing judgment upon other men’s doings. In judging others a man labors to no purpose, very often errs, and easily falls into sin. But to judge and examine himself is always a labor full of profit.”
Thomas à Kempis observed, “Jesus has now many lovers of His Heavenly Kingdom, but few bearers of His Cross. He has many desirous of His consolation, but few of His tribulation. He finds plenty of companions of His table, but few of His abstinence. All wish to rejoice with Christ, but few wish to bear anything for His sake." What, then, does it mean to follow Him?
"The Imitation of Christ" appears as a recurring theme in several of Kierkegaard’s later works. Absorbing the essence of Thomas à Kempis’ writing into the sponge of Kierkegaard’s fertile mind, and then squeezing that sponge onto the printed page, makes for some truly challenging—and fascinating—reading.
