Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/124

 II. He shews what we seek, “ the kingdom of heaven.” For this reason we ought to do righteousness, that by it we may come to the kingdom. Of both, S. Matt. vi. 33, “ Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” There He shews what we should avoid, “Thou shalt not kill.”

III. But He shews that we ought to flee from a threefold sin. (1) The sin of deed, “Thou shalt not kill:” by this is prohibited every act by which our neighbour is injured. Isai. i. 16, “Cease to do evil.” Levit. xix. 16, “Neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour.” (2) He prohibits all sin of the heart, “ Whosoever is angry with his brother.” Eccles. xi. 10, “Remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh.” (3) Sin of the mouth, S. Matt. v. 22, “ But whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca.” Ephes. iv. 29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.”

IV. He shews what we ought to fear, t.e., the coming judgment, “ Shall be in danger of the judgment.” But He here places three things that we ought to fear—(1) The judgment in which all the wicked shall be condemned, “ shall be in danger of the judgment.” Judith xvi. 20, “The Lord Almighty will take revenge on them; in the day of judgment He will visit them.” (2) The Council of Angels and Saints, in which all the wicked will be examined, but “who shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the Council.” Isai. iii. 14, “The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of His people and the princes thereof.” Mai. iv. 6, “ Lest I come to smite the earth with a curse.” (3) The infernal fire, in which all the wicked will be eternally punished, “ shall be in danger of hell fire.” Judith xvi. 21, “For He will give fire and worms into their flesh that they may burn and may feel for ever.” From which fire may Christ deliver us, &c.