Giving Food

Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi... Credo in his scapulis geminam Dei promissionem intelligendam, vitae scilicet ejus quae nunc est, pariter et futurae. Si enim solum promitteret regnum, et in itinere deesset viaticum, omnino conquererentur homines, et responderent: Magnum quidem est quod promittitur, sed perveniendi illuc nulla facultas datur. Propterea qui post hoc saeculum vitam promisit aeternam, ipse dandum etiam in hoc saeculo centuplum providentissima pietate promisit. Quid jam excusationis habes, o homo? Profecto obstructum est os loquentium iniqua. Quid plus afferet inimicus ad tentandum, nisi quia longa futura est vita tua? Et si grandis tibi restat via, cur hoc timeas, cui fortis cibus datur, ne deficere possis in via? Eliae utique cibus allatus est ab angelo, quo nullus in humana consuetudine vilior invenitur, scilicet panis et aqua: tanta tamen in eo fortitudo collata est, ut quadraginta diebus ambulans non fatigaretur nec esuriret . Vis tibi hunc cibum ab Angelis ministrari? Mirum valde, si non vis. Quod si cibum hunc desideras, et angelica ministeria non superba, sed humili magis ambitione requiris; audi quomodo scriptum sit de Domino, quia tentante diabolo, et suadente ut de lapidibus faceret panem, restitit, et dixit: Non in solo pane vivit homo, sed in omni verbo quod procedit de ore Dei. Deinde tentationibus superatis, et tentatore fugato, accesserunt angeli, et ministrabant ei. Et tu ergo, si vis habere ministerium angelorum, fuge consolationes saeculi et tentationibus resiste diaboli. Renuat consolari anima tua in aliis, si vis in Dei memoria delectari. Cum esuris, currere suadet ad panem: at tu potius audi dicentem, Non in solo pane vivit homo. Cur enim tanta varietate distraheris, ut modo cibum, modo potum, modo vestem aut lectum, nisi pro sola corporis necessaria sustentatione requiras, qui in uno, id est in verbo Dei, potes haec omnia invenire? Manna enim est, omnem saporem habens, et odoris delectationem; requies est vera et sincera, suavis et salubris, jucunda et sancta. Sanctus Bernardus Clarae Vallensis, Sermones De Tempore, In Psalmo Qui Habitat..., Sermo IV. De versu quarto, Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi, etc. Source: Migne PL 183.193d-194b

His shoulders shall shelter you...1 I believe that these two shoulders of God are the understanding of the promise of God, this life which now is, together with the future. For if He only gave the promise of the kingdom and did not give sustenance on the way, all men would be overcome and they would answer, 'Certainly what is promised is great, but the ability to come there is not given.' Therefore He who promises eternal life after this age, He must give in this world one hundred fold what He promises with most provident piety. 2 Now what excuse do you have, O man? Undoubtedly the wicked mouth is blocked from speaking. What more shall the enemy bring as a trial unless that your life has a long duration? And if what remains to you of your way is great, why should you fear this, to whom strong food is given lest you perish on the way? Elijah, to whom no one in a human manner has been found more wretched, was brought food, that is, bread and water, by an angel, and such great strength was diffused in him that he walked forty days and was not wearied nor did he hunger. 3 Do you wish to have this food administered to you by angels? It would be a great wonder if you did not. But for this food you desire and the angelic attendance pride is not wanted but rather an ambition for humility. Hear how it is written about the Lord that when he was tested by the devil, and was being persuaded to make bread from stones, He resisted and said, 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.' Then the tempter, overcome in his trials, fled and angels came and ministered to Him. 4 Therefore, if you would have the ministry of angels, flee the comforts of the world and resist the temptations of the devil. If you wish to delight in the thought of God, refuse to have your soul comforted by other things. When you hunger you are driven to seek bread, but it is better for you to hear it said: 'Man does not live on bread alone.' Why are you mislead into such a great variety of things, at one time foodstuffs, at another drink, at another clothing or sleeping, unless you are in need of the one necessary sustenance of the body, in which one thing, that is, the word of God, you can find all of these things. It is the manna, having every aroma, and the scent of delight, it is true and sincere rest, sweet and salutary, joyful and holy. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons For The Year, On The Psalm 'He who dwells...' from Sermon 4, On the fourth verse, 'His shoulders shall shelter you...' 1 Ps 90.4 2 Mt 19.29 3 3 Kings 19.5-8 4 Mt 4.3-11