Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/104

 come into the world.” Thirdly, His departure from the world: “ Again I leave the world.” Fourthly, His ascension to the Father : “ and go to the Father.” I. On the first head it is to be noted, that Christ came forth from the Father for three reasons—(1) That He might manifest the Father in the world: S. John i. 18, “ No man hath seen God at any time; the Only Begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” (2) To declare His Father’s will to us: S. John xv. 15, “All things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you.” (3) That He might show the Father’s love towards us : S. John iii. 16, “ God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him,” &c. II. On the second head it is to be noted, that Christ came into the world for three reasons—(1) To enlighten it: S. John viii. 12, “I am the Light of the world.” (2) That He might reconcile it to God the Father: 2 Cor. v. 19, “ God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.” (3) To deliver it from the power of the Devil: S. John xii. 31, “Now is the judgment of this world : now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” S. John iii. 17, “ God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”

III. On the third head it is to be noted, that Christ left the world for three reasons—(1) On account of its wickedness : 1 S. John v. 19, “The whole world lieth in wickedness.” (2) On account of the perversity of its ingratitude : S. John xv. 18, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.” What could be greater ingratitude than for the world to hate Him Who came to save it? (3) That by leaving the world He should give us an example : 1 S. John ii. 15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” S. John xv. 19, “Ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” IV. On the fourth head it is to be noted, that Christ ascended to the Father for three reasons—That he might intercede with Him for us: S. John xiv. 16, “I will pray the Father.” (2) That He might give to us the Holy Spirit: S. John xvi. 7, “If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you ; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” (3) That He might prepare for us a place with the Father: S. John xiv. 2, “ I go to prepare a place for you.” To which place may He lead us. Amen.