Jeremiah rightly compares the blessed man who trusts in the Lord to a tree planted by the waters. Because he sends out the roots of his heart to the streams of love, he will not fear when the heat of anger and distress comes, and in the time of drought, when for a long time the heavens are closed and neither the dew nor the showers of grace have fallen on him, he will not be anxious as if God had forsaken him. He knows by experience that he is planted in faith, rooted in charity by the waters of life, which according to Ezekiel flow from the sanctuary and bring life to all things; and on the banks, on both sides of the river, there grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves do not wither nor their fruit fail. Why therefore should that blessed tree fear the heat or be anxious about the drought? The living water, the grace of the Spirit, does not cease to bring it secretly the life-giving sap of hope and charity. And so its leaves are green, that is, its words are full of grace and truth, and it does not at any time cease to bring forth fruit of every kind of good work.
Certainly the spring-like peace and joy that God has set aside for his inheritance is very welcome, while the rain he willingly gives is very desirable. But if it is necessary, the heat of adversity burns up all things and again all that Jeremiah has prophesied about spiritual dryness comes about. Still, the man who trusts in God, who has rooted himself by the refreshing waters of grace of the Holy Spirit, will not fear. Even if grace does not openly shower on him so that he feels it entering into him, yet secretly and interiorly, it gives life and fecundity, all the time keeping him faithful to his purpose, strengthens him to persevere and giving him sound speech and steadfastness of action.
Let this be your consolation, my dear brethren, whenever other consolations, spiritual as well as material, have been withdrawn from you, not from your own negligence but by Divine Providence.