Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/81



The Apostle points out especially four things in this Epistle. Firstly, he shows Christ to have been an High Priest: “ Christ being come, an High Priest;” secondly, He commends His High Priesthood: “ of good things to come thirdly, He shews what He offered: “ offered Himself without spot to God fourthly, He points out the profit or effect of His oblation: “ purge your conscience,” &c.

On this last head it is to be noted, that the Blood of Christ purchased seven benefits for us. (1) Cleansing from our sins and defilement: Apoc. i. 5, “ Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His Own Blood.” Heb. xiii. 12, “ Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His Own Blood.” (2) Our redemption: Apoc. v. 9, “And hast redeemed us to God by Thy Blood.” 1 S. Peter i. 18, 19, “ Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, &c.; but with the precious Blood of Christ.” (3) Our peacemaking with God and the angels: Coloss. i. 20, “ Having made peace through the Blood of His Cross.” (4) Confirmation of the testament of the eternal inheritance: 1 Cor. xi. 25, “This Cup is the New Testament in My Blood.” (5) A drinking and inebriation to the consumers: S. Matt. xxvi. 27, 28, “ Drink ye all of it; for this is My Blood of the New Testament,” &c. Deut. xxxii. 14, “ Thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.” (6) The opening of the door of Heaven: Heb. x. 19, “Having. boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus”—i.e., His continual prayer to God for us; for His Blood cries daily for us to the Father. Heb. xii. 24, “ The Blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” The blood of Abel calls for vengeance; the Blood of Christ demands pardon. (7) The deliverance of the saints from Hades: Zech. ix. 11, “ By the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.” From which, &c.