Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/80

 the third: S. John xvi. 28, “I leave the world and go to the Father.”

II. On the second head it is to be noted, that in the Gospels it is recorded that Christ did seven things on the mountain— (1) On it He overcame the Devil. (2) On it He preached to His disciples. (3) He was transfigured on the mount. (4) On it He prayed frequently. (5) On it He appeared to His disciples. (6) On it He fed the multitude. (7) From it He ascended into heaven. Of the first: S. Matt. iv. 8, “The Devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain.” Of the second : S. Matt. v. 1, “ Seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain, and when He was set His disciples came unto Him.” Of the third : S. Matt. xvii. 1, 2, “ Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them.” Of the fourth : S. Matt. xiv. 23, “ He went up into a mountain apart to pray.” Of the fifth : S. Matt, xxviii. 16, “ The eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.” Of the sixth : S. John vi. 3, 11, “Jesus went up into a mountain.Jesus took the loaves.” And of the seventh: S. Luke xxiv. 50, “ He led them forth as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands.”

III. On the third head it is to be noted, that in two villages the Lord fed the multitudes with twelve loaves, and these twelve signify the breads with which He feeds those who follow Him in the way—(1) of charity, (2) joy, (3) peace, (4) long-suffering, (5) gentleness, (6) goodness, (7) faith, (8) meekness, (9) temperance, (10) modesty, (11) continence, (12) chastity. These are the twelve breads of propitiation of which it is spoken : Exod. xxv. 30, “ Thou shalt set upon a table shew-bread before Me alway.” Of all these : Gal. v. 22, 23, “ But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace,” &c.