examination of the heart 156 Picture in your mind gold, silver, precious stones, all the jewels in the world along with the riches and delights of Heaven; the world with all its created beings; Heaven with all the angels and the blessed. God who gave Himself to you in spiritual food surpasses all of this: true God and true man. It is He who created you; it is He who redeemed you; it is He who will judge you. Finally, if you inquire about the taste of Him whom you have received, know that He is sweet; you would feel this sweetness in your heart should it not become bitter from the gall of sins. You cannot know many things, and neither would it be beneficial for you to investigate, examine, and ponder His quality, quantity, and essence. Rather, humbly surrender yourself to Him, like a dog to his master, begging for crumbs of graces and glory and not exploring His majesty, because the examiner of the majesty is crushed by glory, as the Holy Scripture says [cf. Prov 25:27; Sir 3:22-24; Ps 131:1]. On the other hand, the humble man obtains grace and much knowledge: He understands, discerns, and grasps many things, and he comprehends God Himself. FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY Before Holy Communion 1. “a man who sowed good seed” (Mt 13:24). Thus, indeed it is: The heavenly Farmer sowed in His field (that is in your heart and in your soul), not only the good, but the best seeds. [f.21v] For each time you went to Holy Communion, He planted in your soul a good inspiration and graces of light. But you, the arid, untilled, barren field, what fruit have you brought forth from these abundantly sowed and richest seeds? Have you refreshed your Farmer? Unfortunately, He perceives that useless burrs, thorn bushes, and darnels are spread everywhere across His field, that He obtained at the price of His Blood, and that He very often irrigates with the same Blood. Like a farmer inspecting and lamenting his unfruitful field, He is also very sad and complains loudly and bitterly, saying: “What more
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