289 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year with thousand-fold profit. You are an enclosed garden (cf. Cant 4:12); therefore repay your Gardener, the heavenly Spouse, for cultivation and irrigation, with a great fruitfulness of good deeds. 2. “What shall we drink?” (Mt 6:31). Consider how God, the best provider, never neglects any of the necessities of His faithful ones. I shall not give many proofs of this: you know that the Jews were nourished by Him in the desert with the Heavenly manna, not only to appease their hunger, but also for their delight (cf. Dt 8:3, 16; Ps 78:24; Jn 6:31, 49). You know that water from a rock was given to them to drink (cf. Ex 17:6; Ps 105:41), that they were never lacking clothing (cf. Dt 8:4), never wanting of help in any circumstance; and that they were finally led to the land flowing with milk and honey and took possession of it. Today you also were made a participant in His Providence: by means of the sweetest drink, for with His Blood, the most provident Lord revived your soul, weak with aridity. [f.80r] He did it not because of necessity, but also because of the delights and consolation to be found in Him. You should know, however, that He did it, lest you seek in vain, other sources of comfort, and detach yourself from Him in times of hardship. 3. “What shall we wear?” (Mt 6:31). Consider that the servants of God do not need to be concerned about food, drink, clothing, and other such things. How could it possibly be that He, who covers the earth with grass, the birds with feathers, the trees with leaves and bark, would not provide clothing for His servant? May it never happen that you murmur on this account against the Moses of the New Testament! Rather make sure that you always live in His grace, that you fulfill His will; and then all other things will be added to you (cf. Mt 6:33). Never is anyone naked, nor thirsty, nor hungry whom grace clothes, refreshes, and nourishes. Therefore, above all, seek grace.
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