The Sermon on the Mount (Bossuet)/Day 32
Thirty-second Day
Of seeking God and His justice, and in what manner. — Matt. vi. 33, 34.
'SEEK ye therefore first the kingdom of God and His justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.’ Observe: — we are to seek the Kingdom of God and His justice; not a merely moral justice, after the fashion of the heathen; but Christian justice, founded on the example of Jesus Christ, and on these rules of the Gospel that we have just considered. This is a justice that will make us live differently to those who know not God, and also to those who lived before the coming of Christ: — a justice suited to our calling, to our state, and to the graces we have received: — for these are what is meant by the Kingdom of God and His justice.
'Seek': In all the other things that He has spoken of, Our Lord has not used the word ‘seek’; for He assumes that God, in His goodness, can give us all things, and does so, without our troubling about them. This frequently comes to pass as regards the goods of this world; but for the Kingdom of God we are to search. 'Work out your salvation with fear and trembling,’ as St Paul says: — this is the only thing worthy of solicitude.
But I venture to say that, even here, you should banish too great care, or uneasiness in seeking; because St Paul further says: ‘ For it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to accomplish, according to his good will.’ Tremble, then, in working out your salvation; and yet mistrust not your strength too far, for God works with you: He Himself does with you everything you do. Rely, then, on His succour: throw yourself into His arms. He is good: He will take pity on your weakness: He will ' work in you, according to His good will,’ that which you also must work in yourself. Yes: — work out your salvation: labour over it with care, and even with fear; but at the same time with a kind of repose, as of one who looks for every help from an all-powerful and good God.
'Be not therefore solicitous for to-morrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.’ This precept, most important for all the affairs of life, is especially so in the affair of our salvation. There are people who will torment themselves, and think ' Yes: this is all very well! I have been to confession, and have begun to be converted: but what trouble, temptation, and weariness are yet to come! I shall never be able to resist them; life is long, and I shall inevitably give way before such labours.’
Go forth, my son — or my daughter! overcome to-day’s difficulties, and do not trouble yourself about to-morrow’s. One after the other you will conquer them all. ' Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.’ He who has helped you to-day will not desert you to-morrow: but too much forethought and anxiety may be your destruction.