Reading From The Imitation of Christ
book 2 - chapter 11: 1-3
Of the Small Number of the lovers of the Cross of Jesus.
Jesus has now many lovers of His heavenly Kingdom but few that are willing to bear His Cross.
He has many that are desirous of comfort, but few of tribulation.
He finds many companions of His table, but few of His abstinence.
All desire to rejoice with Him, few are willing to suffer with Him.
Many follow Jesus to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the chalice of His Passion.
Many reverence His miracles, but few follow the ignominy of His cross.
Many love Jesus as long as they meet with no adversity.
Many praise Him and bless Him as long as they receive consolation from Him.
But if Jesus hide Himself, and leave them for a little while, they either fall into complaints or excessive dejection.
But they that love Jesus for Jesus’ sake and not for any comfort of their own, bless Him no less in tribulation and anguish of heart than in the greatest consolation.
And if He should never give them His comfort, yet would they always praise Him and always give Him thanks.
Oh, how much is the pure love of Jesus able to do when it is not mixed with any self-interest or self-love.
Are not all those to be called hirelings who are always seeking consolation?
Are they not proved to be rather lovers of themselves than of Christ who are always thinking of their own profit and gain?
Where shall we find a man that is willing to serve God gratis?
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