ON THE INTIMATE LOVE OF JESUS

“When Jesus is present, all is well, and nothing seems hard, But when Jesus is absent, everything is hard. When Jesus is silent, we have no comfort; but if Jesus speaks a single word to our spirit, the comfort we experience is great. Did not Mary rise up quickly from the place where she wept when Martha said to her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you” (John 11:28). Happy is the hour when Jesus calls us from tears to the joy of the Spirit! How dry and hard we are without Jesus! How senseless and proud if we desire anything besides or beyond Jesus! Is this not a greater loss than
if we should lose the whole world?”

from “The Imitation of Christ – Classic Devotions in Today’s Language”
Thomas A Kempis
Compiled and Edited by James N. Watkins