"He must rise again from the dead." — S. John xx. 9.
IN these words five things are to be noted. Firstly, the infinite goodness of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, His delightful beauty. Thirdly, His wonderful love. Fourthly, the joyful solemnity of God. Fifthly, the fervent charity of the women.
I. On the first head it is to be noted, the goodness of Jesus; for Jesus is interpreted Saviour, since He wished to die that He might save by His death, and show His infinite goodness. Truly today for three reasons the Saviour appeared — (1) Because He saved us today from those demons whom He despoiled today: Coloss. ii. 15, "Having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly." (2) Because today He saved us from death, which He vanquished today: "Hath overcome death," &c. (Collect). 1 Cor. xv. 54, "Death is swallowed up in victory." For today Christ victoriously rose, having conquered death. (3) Because He saved us from hell, which he unchained today: Ps. cvii. 16, "He hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder."
II. On the second head it is to be noted, the beauty of Him Who rose, which is expressed by the word Nazarene as applied to Christ, which signifies a flower among flowers whose beauty remains: Cant. ii. 1, "I am the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valley." But there were in Christ three kinds of flowers — (1) red flowers, (2) black, (3) white. The red flowers are drops of blood; the black, the stripes of the wounds; the white, the splendours of the glorified Body. Of the third and first, Cant. v. 10, "My Beloved is white and ruddy." Of the second, 1 S. Pet. ii. 24, "By Whose stripes ye were healed." Jesus was altogether blooming, because girt with roses — that is, with drops of blood; adorned with violets that is, with the stripes of wounds; entrenched with lilies — that is, with the splendours of the glorified Body: Cant. ii. 12, "The flowers appear on the earth."
III. On the third head it is to be noted, the charity of Him rising again "from the dead:" S. Matt, xxviii. 5, "Jesus Who was crucified." The death of Christ was such an inestimable love of charity as no mere man was able to conceive of: Eph. iii. 18, "The Love of Christ which passeth knowledge." S. John xv. 13, "Greater love hath no man than this." For three reasons especially He wished to die the death of the Cross — (1) That He might show manifestly to all that He both truly died, and from this death truly rose again. For it was patent to all that He was really dead when the Cross raised on high showed Him, on it, dead: Acts x. 39, "And we are witnesses of all things which He did ...... Whom they slew and hanged on a tree." (2) That as the Tree had produced the fruit of death, so the Tree having produced the fruit of this life might quicken all: "Who by the wood of the Cross wrought salvation for the human race" (S. Greg. Mag.) (3) That as the Devil had overcome man by the Tree, so He might similarly, by the Tree, triumph.
IV. On the fourth head is to be noted, the festivity of this present day: S. Matt, xxviii. 6, "He must rise again," "He is risen." The Resurrection of the Lord has made for us this day of solemnity and joy: Ps. cxviii. 24, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Three events have made this day to be solemn — (1) The sending of an Angel from Heaven: S. Matt, xxviii. 2, "The Angel of the Lord by descending from Heaven." (2) The earth, by leaping for joy: S. Matt, xxviii. 2, "There was a great earthquake." (3) Hell, by restoring the Saints: S. Matt, xxvii. 52, 53, "Many bodies of the Saints which slept arose and came out of the graves." So that the heavens, the earth, and Hades all finished their testimony to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
V. On the fifth head is to be noted, the devoted love of the women: S. Matt, xxviii. 5, "Cometh Mary Magdalene;" "Ye seek Jesus." These holy women teach us to seek Jesus according to His own promise, if we wish to find Him. Jesus is to be sought for in a threefold manner — firstly, in faith; secondly, in hope; thirdly, in charity. (1) Reasonably he seeks Him by faith, who seeks the light of His truth. (2) Earnestly he seeks Him in hope, who looks for the glory of His Majesty. (3) Fervently they seek Him in charity, who long for the sweetness of His goodness. These are the three Marys who came to the sepulchre. O Lord Jesus! make us to seek Thee and to find Thee. Amen
IN these words five things are to be noted. Firstly, the infinite goodness of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, His delightful beauty. Thirdly, His wonderful love. Fourthly, the joyful solemnity of God. Fifthly, the fervent charity of the women.
I. On the first head it is to be noted, the goodness of Jesus; for Jesus is interpreted Saviour, since He wished to die that He might save by His death, and show His infinite goodness. Truly today for three reasons the Saviour appeared — (1) Because He saved us today from those demons whom He despoiled today: Coloss. ii. 15, "Having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly." (2) Because today He saved us from death, which He vanquished today: "Hath overcome death," &c. (Collect). 1 Cor. xv. 54, "Death is swallowed up in victory." For today Christ victoriously rose, having conquered death. (3) Because He saved us from hell, which he unchained today: Ps. cvii. 16, "He hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder."
II. On the second head it is to be noted, the beauty of Him Who rose, which is expressed by the word Nazarene as applied to Christ, which signifies a flower among flowers whose beauty remains: Cant. ii. 1, "I am the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valley." But there were in Christ three kinds of flowers — (1) red flowers, (2) black, (3) white. The red flowers are drops of blood; the black, the stripes of the wounds; the white, the splendours of the glorified Body. Of the third and first, Cant. v. 10, "My Beloved is white and ruddy." Of the second, 1 S. Pet. ii. 24, "By Whose stripes ye were healed." Jesus was altogether blooming, because girt with roses — that is, with drops of blood; adorned with violets that is, with the stripes of wounds; entrenched with lilies — that is, with the splendours of the glorified Body: Cant. ii. 12, "The flowers appear on the earth."
III. On the third head it is to be noted, the charity of Him rising again "from the dead:" S. Matt, xxviii. 5, "Jesus Who was crucified." The death of Christ was such an inestimable love of charity as no mere man was able to conceive of: Eph. iii. 18, "The Love of Christ which passeth knowledge." S. John xv. 13, "Greater love hath no man than this." For three reasons especially He wished to die the death of the Cross — (1) That He might show manifestly to all that He both truly died, and from this death truly rose again. For it was patent to all that He was really dead when the Cross raised on high showed Him, on it, dead: Acts x. 39, "And we are witnesses of all things which He did ...... Whom they slew and hanged on a tree." (2) That as the Tree had produced the fruit of death, so the Tree having produced the fruit of this life might quicken all: "Who by the wood of the Cross wrought salvation for the human race" (S. Greg. Mag.) (3) That as the Devil had overcome man by the Tree, so He might similarly, by the Tree, triumph.
IV. On the fourth head is to be noted, the festivity of this present day: S. Matt, xxviii. 6, "He must rise again," "He is risen." The Resurrection of the Lord has made for us this day of solemnity and joy: Ps. cxviii. 24, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Three events have made this day to be solemn — (1) The sending of an Angel from Heaven: S. Matt, xxviii. 2, "The Angel of the Lord by descending from Heaven." (2) The earth, by leaping for joy: S. Matt, xxviii. 2, "There was a great earthquake." (3) Hell, by restoring the Saints: S. Matt, xxvii. 52, 53, "Many bodies of the Saints which slept arose and came out of the graves." So that the heavens, the earth, and Hades all finished their testimony to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
V. On the fifth head is to be noted, the devoted love of the women: S. Matt, xxviii. 5, "Cometh Mary Magdalene;" "Ye seek Jesus." These holy women teach us to seek Jesus according to His own promise, if we wish to find Him. Jesus is to be sought for in a threefold manner — firstly, in faith; secondly, in hope; thirdly, in charity. (1) Reasonably he seeks Him by faith, who seeks the light of His truth. (2) Earnestly he seeks Him in hope, who looks for the glory of His Majesty. (3) Fervently they seek Him in charity, who long for the sweetness of His goodness. These are the three Marys who came to the sepulchre. O Lord Jesus! make us to seek Thee and to find Thee. Amen
Source:
THE EASTER HOMILIES OF S. THOMAS AQUINAS.
TRANSLATED BY
JOHN M. ASHLEY, B.C.L.http://www.saintwiki.com/index.php?title=Aquinas/Easter_Homilies/Homily_II
TRANSLATED BY
JOHN M. ASHLEY, B.C.L.http://www.saintwiki.com/index.php?title=Aquinas/Easter_Homilies/Homily_II
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HAPPY EASTER!!!
FROM THE POSTULANTS OF OUR CHAPTER
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