Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/171

 enemies of the Cross of Christ: whose end is destruction,” Philip, iii. 18, 19. “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring them hither and slay them before me,” S. Luke xix. 27. S. Augustine says that they are the enemies of God not by nature, but by committing sins which are opposed to His commands ; for all the enemies of Christ who are unwilling to obey Him, they avail nothing to hurt Him ; but they are enemies to themselves by their resistance of His will, and not by their power of doing Him harm. Although anyone is an enemy, He is able to become his friend if he flies to the Blood of Christ: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life,” Rom. v. 10. To which life may we be brought.

The Apostle lays down three propositions in this Epistle. Firstly, he exhorts the faithful lest they should give place to the devil in their heart: “Neither give place to the devil.” Secondly, he bids them avoid those things which prepare a place for him: “ Let him that stole steal no more.” Thirdly, he admonishes them that they ought to do that which may put the devil to flight: “ But rather let him labour,” &c.

I. On the first head it is to be noted, that for seven reasons we ought not to give place to the devil. (1) Because the serpent desires to poison the soul which receives him with a most deadly poison: “ The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world,” Rev. xii. 9. (2) Because he is a lion seeking to devour souls: “ Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour,” 1 Pet. v. 8. (3) Because he is envious, bringing envy into