Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/166



In that the Apostle gives thanks that they were enriched “ by Him,” he indicates that there are certain riches which are to be desired ; and in that Christ truly threatened the rich, he shews that there are certain riches which are to be avoided. Whence we learn that there are temporal riches, spiritual riches, and eternal riches. Of temporal riches: “If riches increase, set not your heart upon them,” Ps. lxii. 10. Of spiritual riches: “ Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, and .... Wealth and riches shall be in his house,” Ps. cxii. 1-3. Of eternal riches: “Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness,” Prov. viii. 18. “Riches are with me,” i.e., the better things; “And glory,” i.e., ineffable; “durable riches,” i.e., such as are exalted ; and righteousness, i.e., such as are according to merit. I. In the first place it is to be noted, that temporal riches are to be despised chiefly for four reasons. (1) On account of their uselessness : “ He that loveth abundance shall not be satisfied with increase,” Eccles. v. 10. “ Increase,” fruit, i.e., of eternal life. “ Riches profit not in the day of wrath,” Prov. xi. 4. That is, temporal riches do not avail for the salvation of man in the day of judgment; “But righteousness delivereth from death; ” i.e., the good works of righteousness deliver from eternal death. “ Set not thy heart upon goods; and say not, I have enough for my life. ... For they shall not profit thee in the day of calamity,” Ecclus. v. 1-8. “We brought nothing into the world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out,” 1 S. Tim. vi. 7. (2) On account of the necessity of leaving them: “ They have slept their sleep; and none of the men of might have found their hands,” Ps. lxxvi. 5. “ He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again : God shall