339 part ii: meditations for more solemn feasts Wherefore you, if you are so prudent that you wish to get from Him a reward rather than a punishment, work hard, as much as your strengths allow, at doing good deeds and avoiding evil ones. Therefore, resist your passions and work hard with great strength to acquire virtues, so that this just Judge, judging you according to your actions, would not mark you for the fall, but for the resurrection. FOR THE FEAST OF ST. MATTHEW, APOSTLE Before Holy Communion 1. “[You have] revealed them to little ones” (Mt 11:25) [DRB]. Consider, that heavenly wisdom and prudence is always contrary to worldly wisdom and prudence. Hence, those who place their trust in human wisdom and count on it are not fit to comprehend the Divine Wisdom, as we see from the example of the Pharisees, the Jewish Scribes, and Doctors. [f.104v] Since they regarded themselves as wise and prudent, the eternal Father has hidden from them heavenly secrets and the mysteries of His wisdom and has revealed them to the little ones, to the simple and illiterate fishermen. If human wisdom mostly brings forth pride, the Divine Wisdom can remain only in a humble mind. They disagree so completely with one another that one must be inevitably abandoned so that the other may be possessed. Therefore, bow your head now. Put aside the prudence swelling with pride and become a little one as you approach the source of Divine Wisdom, so that you may fruitfully draw from it the wisdom that is useful for you and for many others. 2. “Come [to Me]” (Mt 11:28). Consider, that the Most Holy Eucharist refreshes the soul not unlike corporal food refreshes the tired limbs. As the latter would grow weak from their labors if they were not rather frequently refreshed, thus the spirit would be entirely extinguished in us if it were not nourished by this heavenly food. Wherefore, just like a good householder that usually calls the workers to table after they
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