Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/118



The Lord sets before us two things in these words. Firstly, He induces us to mercy, “ Be ye therefore merciful.” Secondly, it gives the rule for shewing mercy, “ as your Father also is merciful.”

I. On the first head, it is to be noted, that three reasons chiefly move us in shewing mercy. (1) Necessity; (2) utility; (3) congruity. It is a necessity, because he who does not shew mercy will not find mercy. James ii. 13, “For he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy.” It is useful, because he who shews mercy shall find mercy. S. Matt. v. 7, “ Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” It is congruous, because when we obtain mercy from all creatures, it is only suitable that we should shew mercy to others. For we are full of misery, and unless other creatures should have compassion on us in giving themselves and their kind offices for us, we should not be able to exist. For if the sun or fire should give up its light and heat, and the earth its fruit, what could miserable man do? Therefore it is sufficiently congruous, since man meets mercy, that he should shew mercy to others. Prov. xix. 22, Vulg., “ The needy man is merciful;” and he who needs mercy ought to shew mercy to others—ought to be sorry for others; whence, in a certain way, creatures accuse the unmerciful.

II. On the second head, it is to be noted that the mercy of God chiefly appeared in three ways. (1) In the gift of His Son : it was a great gift, and a great mercy, of which S. Luke i. 72, “To perform the mercy promised to our fathers.” (2) In the glorification of the just, Psalm cix. 21, “ Because Thy mercy is good.” Psalm xxxvi. 5, “Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens.” (3) In the justification of sinners, Psalm lxxxvi. 13, “For great is Thy mercy toward me.” On account of the first mercy we ought to praise Him and love Him. On account of the second mercy we ought to be confident, for however great sinners they may be they may fly to God. Isa. lv. 7, “ Let the wicked forsake his