“And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. And if the grass of the field, which is to day, and to morrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith?
Jesus here shows you to slow down and consider the beauty of the things that He has made. The little beauties of the earth do not worry and become anxious about their beauty, they simply are. The lilies of the field grow into their full goodness and loveliness by simply being what they are, not worrying if their petals are wonderful enough, or their stems long enough, but to simply be themselves adds beauty to the earth. These, in truth, are more magnificent than any raiment, as Jesus mentions by way of comparison to Solomon’s glory: “And king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches, and wisdom” (3 Kings 10:23). The brushstroke of the Creator is so intricate and careful for one little flower, that it may be seen, give joy, and pass away. Think on your dignity both as a person and as a Christian; you are meant to live forever: “He that believeth in the Son, hath life everlasting” (John 3:36); “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? …Thou hast made him a little less than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour” (Psalm 8:5-6), and are loved beyond comparison: “Know also the love of Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19). Flowers, in all of their wonderfulness, do not exist for their own good, but for your enjoyment. Each is a gift from your Beloved to make you happier, “A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22), but at the end of the day is nothing but an adornment for your wedding feast with God: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give glory to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath prepared herself. And it is granted to her that she should clothe herself with fine linen, glittering and white” (Apocalypse 19:7-8). You exist for His love, not the things that distract you from love, not the things that make life more beautiful, but you. Therefore, there is no need to be anxious about anything but love, and even then, to trust in the infinite mercy of God to robe you in spiritual magnificence: “Behold I have taken away thy iniquity, and have clothed thee with change of garments” (Zacharias 3:4); “We will make thee chains of gold, inlaid with silver” (Song 1:10). The garments of the merits of Jesus will be given to you and will be a sweet savor to the Father: “He said to him: ‘Come near me, and give me a kiss, my son.’ He came near, and kissed him. And immediately as he smelled the fragrant smell of his garments, blessing him, he said: ‘Behold the smell of my son is as the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord hath blessed” (Genesis 27:26-27); “For we are the good odour of Christ unto God, in them that are saved” (2 Corinthians 2:15). As love finds greater expression in your life, being tailored to an artisan’s shine: “The joints of thy thighs are like jewels, that are made by the hand of a skilful workman” (Song 7:1), it will bring you to a greater resemblance of the Son: “Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children; and in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness” (Ephesians 5:1-2). In loving as God loves and always seeking what pleases Him best: “And he that sent me, is with me, and he hath not left me alone: for I do always the things that please him” (John 8:29), you open yourself to being adorned in spiritual beauty, “Whose adorning let it not be the outward plaiting of the hair, or the wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel: but the hidden man of the heart in the incorruptibility of a quiet and a meek spirit, which is rich in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:3-4), for grace will supply that which God wants to see in you: “He brought me into the cellar of wine,” which denotes the devotions and holy practices that are pleasing to God, “he set in order charity in me” (Song 2:4). In being captivated by Love, you look at the end of your days to die of love and enter your heavenly homeland with triumph and glory, embracing the Beloved as an eager bride: “And I John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Apocalypse 21:2), for the Church is reflected in her individual members, and each is loved as the Church is loved: “Now you are the body of Christ, and members of member” (1 Corinthians 12:27); “You are the temple of the living God; as God saith: ‘I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people’” (2 Corinthians 6:16). Therefore, worry not about yourself and how you appear, but seek only to do what is pleasing to the Lord, and be captivated by love of Him. You will truly find yourself when you let love be your guide, and you need not worry about your growth, advancement, road, or trials, when you trust entirely in love: “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of affliction, to give you an end and patience” (Jeremias 29:11); “Commit thy way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will do it” (Psalm 35:5). Know your incredible value in the eyes of God and walk accordingly, “Walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called, with all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1-2), and He will bring you to the fulness of His love.