The contemplation of Christ
Most people are familiar with the famous statement, Cogito, ergo sum, “I think, therefore I am”, made by René Descartes. A short, but profound statement. For even when we are doubting everything, we are still thinking. Therefore the surest thing we can know is the existence of the thinking subject. And since thought is a spiritual activity, he had proved the existence of the human spirit. It was from this postulate that Descartes, a devout Catholic, set about arguing for the existence of God. Can there be anything more worthwhile than such contemplation? It seems, that there is not. Man can master the natural sciences, the arts and other disciplines. We go away after a period of study with a sense of self content, often thinking, “Behold, I am wise”. Not so with the contemplation of Christ. No subject of contemplation can so humble the human mind, than thoughts of Christ. Yet, even though it humbles the mind, it also expands it. As Charles Spurgeon said, “He who often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around this narrow globe.” One who thinks they are educated, cultured and sophisticated, yet has never given so much as a passing thought to Christ, and Him crucified; is a fool. They could say of themselves, “I am but of yesterday, and know nothing.” It is most profitable for the human mind to often contemplate on the one who said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” It was Augustine who said, “The greatest happiness is for the mind to attain God.” The Philosopher, namely Aristotle, also agrees with this idea in the final book of the Ethics, where he says, that man’s ultimate happiness is speculative, that is, speculation bearing on the most noble of knowable objects, namely God. Most importantly, it is confirmed in Scripture. For it is written in John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Think on these things.
