Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/88

 bread of sincerity.” For he who wishes to celebrate this solemn Passover ought himself to be most cleansed: Numb, xviii. 11, “Everyone that is clean in thy house shall eat of it.” (5) Truth of life is necessary: Ephes. iv. 15, “And of truth,” “ speaking the truth in love.” He who wishes, therefore, to celebrate this ineffable Passover must be purged from the sin of carnal concupiscence, and of avarice, and of pride ; and must be delighted in purity of mind, in truth of life, and will come to that Passover which does not follow the Lenten fast, but will be there a perpetual and eternal solemnity. To which may Jesus Our God bring us. Amen.

In these words five things are to be noted. Firstly, the infinite goodness of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, His delightful beauty. Thirdly, His wonderful love. Fourthly, the joyful solemnity of God. Fifthly, the fervent charity of the women.

I. On the first head it is to be noted, the goodness of Jesus; for Jesus is interpreted Saviour, since He wished to die that He might save by His death, and show His infinite goodness. Truly today for three reasons the Saviour appeared —(1) Because He saved us today from those demons whom He despoiled today: Coloss. ii. 15, “ Having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly.” (2) Because today He saved us from death, which He vanquished today: “ Hath overcome death,” &c. (Collect). 1 Cor. xv. 54, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” For today Christ victoriously rose, having conquered death. (3) Because He saved us from hell, which he unchained today: Ps. cvii. 16, “He hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.”

II. On the second head it is to be noted, the beauty of Him Who rose, which is expressed by the word Nazarene as applied to Christ, which signifies a flower among flowers whose beauty remains: Cant. ii. 1, “I am the Rose of Sharon