Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/195

 they are they which testify of Me..... Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me,” S. John v. 39-46. (4) Was the day of the preaching of Him by the prophets : “ He hath visited and redeemed His people, ..... as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets,” S. Luke i. 68, 70. (5) Was the day of the Incarnation of Christ: “ In that day the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk ; ..... and a fountain shall come forth of the House of the Lord,” Joel iii. 18. Of these five can be interpreted the words of Judith : “Let us yet endure five days, in the which space the Lord Our God may turn His mercy toward us,” Judith vii. 30.

II. On the second head it is to be noted, that the Prophet treats of five things which relate to the dignity of Christ. (1) He commends Him from His fairness. (2) From the power of His strength. These two qualities are included in the name of David, which signifies that which is desirable to the sight, and which is strong of arm. Now, Christ was desirable to the sight, on account of His exceeding beauty: “Thou art fairer than the children of men,” Ps. xlv. 2. “ Which things the angels desire to look into,” 1 Peter i. 12. Christ was also strong of arm, on account of His admirable fortitude. S. Augustine speaks of Him as being bound in hand, and fixed to the Cross, and yet having made war against the power of the air. “ If I speak of strength, lo, He is strong,” Job. ix. 19. (3) He commends Him on account of His innate holiness: “ A righteous Branch,” i.e., in conception, because He is alone without sin. “ Therefore, also, that Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God,” S. Luke i. 35. (4) From His regal dignity: “ A King shall reign.” “For He is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings,” Rev. xvii. 14. (5) From the brightness of His wisdom: “And shall be wise,” Vulg. “In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” Colos. ii. 3.

III. On the third head it is to be noted, that Christ came into the world that He might judge and reward us, or, as it is here expressed, to “execute justice and judgment in the earth.” (1) Judgment in condemning the unbelieving: “ He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the Only Begotten Son of God,” S. John iii. 18. (2) In justifying and loving those who