When Francis was living with
his brothers whom he had then, he lived in poverty with them. At that time, they observed the Holy Gospel
in and through all things to the letter, from that day in which the Lord
revealed to him that he and his brothers should live according to the form of
the Holy Gospel. So he did not allow a
brother who used to cook for the friars to put dried beans in warm water when
they were to be given to the friars to eat on the following day, as the custom
is, so that they might observe that saying of the Holy Gospel, “Take no thought
for tomorrow”. And so that brother put
off setting them to soften till after Matins, because by then the day in which
they were to be eaten had begun. (On
account of which many friars observed this rule in many places for a long time
and would neither ask nor accept more alms than were necessary to them for one
day, and this especially in cities.)
-Mirror of Perfection Section II, Chapter 19
It is wise to reserve for the future, against a rainy
day. It is wise to have sufficient, not
only for today, but for tomorrow. In our
society we reflect this wisdom through savings accounts, IRAs, retirement,
health and life insurance. But Jesus
said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has worries enough of its
own.” He said, “Seek God’s kingdom and
his righteousness and all of these future needs will be cared for.” Rather than preserving for tomorrow, we need
to trust in God, to whom we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Let us take the excess of today and give it
freely to those who are in need today.
Then we will see that God, who granted us our needs for today, will also
be there tomorrow to grant us our needs.
He is the same yesterday, today and forever and in as much as we trust
in Him, so will He provide for us.
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