Thread

Title of the work in Latin MEDULLA S. THOMAE AQUITATIS PER OMNES ANNI LITURGICI DIES DISTRBUITA, SEU MEDITATIONES EX OPERIBUS S. THOMAE DEPROMPTAE Compilation and organization by FR. Z. MÉZARD O. P. NOTE All titles marked with an asterisk contain material that is no longer attributed to Saint Thomas Aquinas 30. Thursday after the IV Sunday of Lent: The Death of Lazarus Thursday of the IV week of Lent “Our friend Lazarus sleeps” (John 11:11) I. We call someone “Our friend” because of the numerous benefits and services they have rendered to us; therefore, we should not neglect them in their time of need. “…Lazarus sleeps”: this is the reason we need to assist him. “A friend… becomes a brother in the time of misfortune” (Proverbs 17:17). In the words of Saint Augustine, he sleeps for the Lord; for men, who cannot raise him, he is dead. The word sleep can be used to signify many things: natural sleep itself, negligence, the sleep of guilt, the rest of contemplation or future glory, and sometimes death, as Saint Paul says, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Death is called sleep because of the hope of resurrection. For this reason, it is often referred to as “rest” since the time when Our Lord died and rose again: “I lay down and slept” (Psalm 3:6). II. “but I will awaken him.” With this, Jesus implies that it is as easy for Him to raise Lazarus from the tomb as it is to wake someone from sleep. There is nothing surprising in this, for it is He who raises the dead and gives them life. That is why He said: “Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear the voice of the Son of God” (John 5:28). III. “let us go to him.” The mercy of God shines here; while men, in a state of sin and as the dead, cannot go to Him on their own, it is He who draws them, mercifully preceding them, as stated in the Scriptures: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you” (Jeremiah 31:3). IV. “And when Jesus arrived, he found that he had already been in the tomb four days.” According to Saint Augustine, Lazarus, dead for four days, signifies the sinner held by the death of a quadruple sin: original sin, sin against natural law, actual sin against positive law, and actual sin against Gospel law and grace. Alternatively, it can be said that the first day represents the sin of the heart, cf. “Cease to do evil; remove the evil of your deeds from before My eyes” (Isaiah 1:16); the second, the sin of the tongue, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth” (Ephesians 4:29); the third, the sin of deeds, about which Isaiah says, “Cease to do evil” (Isaiah 1:16); the fourth day represents the sin of bad habits. In any way the text is presented, the Lord sometimes heals those who have been dead for four days, that is, those who transgress the law of the Gospel and are trapped in the habit of sin. In John, XI (P. D. Mézard, O. P., Meditationes ex Operibus S. Thomae.) #God #Deus #Isten #Gott #Jesus #Católico #Catholic #Katholik #katholisch #Katolikus #catholique #Faith #Fé #foi #信仰 #Latin #Latim #Gospel #Evangelho #Evangélium #évangile #Dieu #福音 #日本 #カトリック #Bible #Biblestr #Nostr #Grownostr