Second Sunday of Advent

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THE ADVENT HOMILIES OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Taken from here.

HOMILY III
THE TEACHING OF HOLY SCRIPTURE — No. I.

Second Sunday in Advent (From the Epistle)
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning."— Rom. xv. 4.

Tur Apostle has taught us on the preceding Sunday to arise from the dead; on this day he teaches us towards what we ought to arise, for the Scripture, which our heavenly Master has given for us, is to be studied and read. And the Lord as a good Master was the more solicitous to provide us with the best writings, that He might make us perfectly instructed. "Whatever things," He said, "were written, were written for our learning." But these writings are comprised in two books—that is to say, in the Book of Creation, and in the Book of Scripture. The first book has so many creations; it has just so many most perfect writings, which teach the truth without a lie; hence, when Aristotle was asked whence he had learnt so many and so great things, answered, "From the things themselves, which know not how to deceive." But they teach two things to be learned; and of the things which may be known four things are to be taught. First, that there is a God; secondly, that this God is one; thirdly, that this God is triune; and, fourthly, that He is the highest good. 

For the world teaches by itself that it is His work. Wis. xiii. 5, "For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the Creator of them may be seen, to be known thereby." Because they are one, and are preserved, in the same manner, they teach the unity of God; for, if there were many Gods, the world would have already been destroyed, since division is the cause of destruction. S. Matt. xii. 25, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." For all things exist by number, weight, and measure; or, according to S. Augustine, "On the 'Trinity by mode, by species, and by order; so that they teach a threefold Godhead." Wis. xi. 21, "Thou hast ordered all things in measure, number, and weight." Because all things are good, they teach that He is the highest goodness through Whom so many good things proceed. According to S. Augustine it is a great token of goodness that every creature conceives itself to be good; therefore, because God is good, so are we. About the actions to be done, in like manner, we are taught a fourfold lesson. God is to be obeyed, loved, feared, and praised. Of the first, we ought to obey God, for all things serve Him. Ps. cxlviii. 6, "He hath made a decree which shall not pass." Nothing among God's creatures does the Creator find to be disobedient, save the sinner and the devil. God teaches us to love Him by His benefits and gifts, which He shows to us daily. S. Augustine says that heaven and earth, and all things which are in them, on every side, say to me that I should love Thee; neither do they cease to say this by all things, that I may be inexcusable if I love Thee not. By pains and punishments they teach us to fear God. We see that all things are prepared to punish those that rebel against their Creator. Wis. xvi. 24, "For the creature serving Thee, the Creator, is made fierce against the unjust for their punishment: and abateth its strength for the benefit of them that trust in Thee." 

They teach us to praise God; for all things praise Him and invite us to His praising. St. Augustine says that it is wonderful that man does not always praise God, since every creature invites to the praising of Him; and this so plainly that all His creatures become as so many Scriptures of God, teaching us that there are four things to be known, as well as four commands to be performed.

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HOMILY IV
THE TEACHING OF HOLY SCRIPTURE — No. II.

Second Sunday in Advent (From the Epistle)
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning."— Rom. xv. 4.

As we have treated of above, there are two books which are written for our learning, the book of the Creation, which formed the subject of the former homily; and the book of Scripture, of which we have now to speak. This book teaches us two things—things good and things evil: the good, that we should perform them; the evil, that we should avoid them. There are three attributes which are taught us about the Good, precepts, counsels, and promises; for the Good is threefold, and it is both honest, and pleasant, and profitable. The precepts teach us honest good, because they teach the worship of the One God, and fairness of manners and of virtues which make the honest man.

In counsels there is the useful good. St. Matt. xix. 21, "If thou wilt be perfect go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven." The delightful or joyous good flows from promises. St. John xvi. 22, "I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice.” Deut. iv. 1, "Hearken, O Israel, unto the Statutes and the judgments which I teach you that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you." Likewise, concerning the evil things there are three points to be noticed — prohibitions, dissuasions, and comminations, and they agree with the threefold nature of evil. There is the evil of deadly sin, of venial sin, and of the sin of eternal punishment. 

The prohibitions refer to the evil of deadly sin, "Neither shalt thou commit fornication,” &c., and so with regard to the other prohibitions. The dissuasions refer to venial sin, Eccles. xix. 1, "He that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little. Thou hast avoided grand things, be careful lest thou art overwhelmed in the sand." Comminations have respect to the evil of eternal punishment— Isa. lxvi. 24, "For their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched.” Rightly, therefore, does the Apostle say that whatever things were written in the book of Scripture were written for our instruction.

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HOMILY V
THE ADVENT OF JUSTICE. 

Second Sunday in Advent (From the Gospel)
"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.” S. Luke xv. 25.

We spoke in the Gospel of the preceding Sunday of the mercy of Our Lord's second coming; we will now treat of the justness of His Advent. It appertains to justice to punish the evil, and to reward the good; and therefore both these acts are treated of in this Gospel. The former in the words of the text, "And there shall be signs;" and the latter in the second part of this Gospel, "Look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh.” About the punishment of the wicked, the Gospel shows that the Creator and the creature unite for their punishment. This creature, which meets together for the punishment of the wicked, is threefold — spiritual, corporeal, and composite. The spiritual creature is an angel; the composite creature is a man; the corporeal creature is twofold, superior and inferior —the former being the heavenly bodies, the latter being the elements. Therefore the Lord points out in this Gospel that the wicked receive punishment from Him, by angels, by heavenly bodies, and from themselves. Firstly, they shall see the Son of Man; secondly, the powers of heaven shall be shaken; thirdly, there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; fourthly, the sea and waves roaring; fifthly, men’s hearts failing them for fear. Of the first, it is known that in a threefold manner God will afflict the wicked: firstly, in awarding; secondly, in convicting; thirdly, in condemning. Of the first, "I have been naked;” of the second, "Since ye have not done it unto Me," &c.; of the least of these, &c.; of the third, "Depart from Me, ye wicked.” 

As in a three-fold manner the Son of Man afflicts the wicked, so do the angels also. In the first place by drawing the wicked to judgment; in the second place by separating them from the good; in the third place by consigning them to eternal fire. S. Matt. (xiii. 41, 42) speaks of this threefold office of the angels, "The Son of Man shall send forth His angels," &c. "They shall gather out of His kingdom," and so draw the wicked to judgment, since with their heavy bodies they cannot move so quickly as the angels. "All things that offend and them which do iniquity, and so they will separate the evil from the midst of the just.” "And shall cast them into & furnace of fire." So fulfilling the third office. The celestial body shall in the same way—in a threefold manner—afflict the wicked. In the first place, by frightening them with signs; in the second place, by afflicting them with darkness; in the third place, by discovering their wickedness. Of the first, there shall be signs in the sun, moon, and stars, Joel ii. 90, 81, "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke;” of the second, S. Matt. xxiv. 29, "The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light;" of the third, Job xx. 27, "The heavens shall reveal his iniquity.”