Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/192

 time past were not the people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy,” 1 S! Pet. ii. 9,10. (3) By putting to flight the darkness of our sins by the light of His powers : “ Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light,” Eph. v. 8.

III. On the third head it is to be noted, that the Lord makes a three-fold translation of the holy ones. (1) He translates them from the darkness of exile to the light of the vision of His glory: “Enoch pleased the Lord, and was translated,” Ecclus. xliv. 16. Into paradise, which is the place furnishing the vision of God which is the blessedness of saints and angels. “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom thou hast sent.” (2) He translates them from death to eternal life: “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren,” 1 S. John iii. 14. (3) He translates them from this wretched state to the inheritance of the heavenly kingdom: “ Unto the kingdom of His dear Son,” &c.

Morally, three things are to observed of this miracle. Firstly, a wretchedness of the sinning mind: “ Behold, a woman which was diseased.” Secondly, the humility of the sinning one: “ Came behind Him and touched the hem of His garment.” Thirdly, the profit of repentance: “ Daughter, be of good comfort.”

I. On the first head it is to be noted, that in three ways the sinner suffers from “ an issue of blood.” (1) Through an excessive love of kindred: “ Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of