Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/170

 moth, no envy, because none there will envy the happiness of another. In heaven there are no thieves or demons, because they have joined their head. S. Chrysostom points out vain-glory as being the one thief who steals the treasure which is laid up in heaven.

THREE things are noted in these words. Firstly, the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ: “The Lord said unto my Lord,” which is God saying that Fie had begotten a co-equal Son, Who was born not after the order of David, but so that He was ever of the Father. Secondly, His great dignity according to His human nature: “ Sit thou on My right hand,” z.e., reign Thou over the best of My good things. Thirdly, the power and justice of God : “ Till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool;” for it pertains to the justice and power of God that He should punish all the enemies of Christ. But mark that there are six ways in which the Lord will punish His enemies ; whence they are foolish who wish to be His enemies, and are such, and are not reconciled to Him. (1) He will fight against them with the whole world: “ Until I make thine enemies Thy footstool,” Ps. ex. 1. Gloss., Until I subdue them, willing or unwilling. (2) He will shew them His fury: “The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserveth wrath for His enemies,” Nahum i. 2. (3) He will judge them most severely: “ If I whet My glittering sword, and Mine hand take hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to Mine enemies, and will reward them that hate Me,” Deut. xxxii. 41. (4) He will blind them with the uttermost darkness: “ Darkness shall pursue His enemies,” Nahum i. 8. (5) He will render to them eternal punishment: “ He smote His enemies in the hinder parts; He put them to a perpetual reproach,” Ps. lxxviii. 66. (6) Fie will condemn them to an eternal death: “ And now tell you even weeping .... the