Readings

January 28: Thomas Aquinas, Friar and Theologian, 1274

The Collect of the Day

Thomas Aquinas

Almighty God, who has enriched your church with the singular learning and holiness of your servant Thomas Aquinas: Enlighten us more and more, we pray, by the disciplined thinking and teaching of Christian scholars, and deepen our devotion by the example of saintly lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Thomas Aquinas

Almighty God, who hast enriched thy church with the singular learning and holiness of thy servant Thomas Aquinas: Enlighten us more and more, we pray, by the disciplined thinking and teaching of Christian scholars, and deepen our devotion by the example of saintly lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Thomas Aquinas is one of the most influential theologians in the history of Western Christianity. Born into a noble Italian family, probably in 1225, he entered the new Dominican Order of Preachers as a young man, and soon became an outstanding teacher in an age of intellectual ferment.

Perceiving the challenges that the recent rediscovery of Aristotle’s works might entail for traditional Christian doctrine, especially in their emphasis upon empirical knowledge derived from reason and sense perception independent of faith and revelation, Thomas asserted that reason and revelation are in basic harmony. “Grace”, he said, “is not the denial of nature, but the perfection of it.” This synthesis Thomas accomplished in his greatest works, the Summa Theologiae and the Summa Contra Gentiles, which even today continue to exercise profound influence on Christian thought and philosophy. Although his theology is now considered to be conventional by many Christians, especially among Roman Catholics, in his own day Thomas was considered a bold thinker, even a “radical,” and certain aspects of his thought were condemned by the ecclesiastical authorities. His canonization on July 18th, 1323 vindicated him.

Thomas understood God’s disclosure of his Name, in Exodus 3:14, “I Am Who I Am,” to mean that God is Being, the Ultimate Reality from which everything else derives its being. The difference between God and the world is that God’s essence is to exist, whereas all other beings derive their being from him by the act of creation. Although God and the world are distinct, there is, nevertheless, an analogy of being between God and the world, since the Creator is reflected in his creation. It is therefore possible to have a limited knowledge of God by analogy from the created world. On this basis, human reason can demonstrate that God exists; that he created the world; and that he contains in himself, as their cause, all the perfections that exist in his creation. The distinctive truths of Christian faith, however, such as the Trinity and the Incarnation, are known only by revelation.

In December 1273, after decades of churning out theological writings at an astonishing pace, Thomas suddenly stopped, leaving his great Summa unfinished. When pressed as to why, he could only say that he had experienced a mystical encounter so profound that all of his former words seemed empty to him now. “All that I have written seems to me like so much straw compared to what I have seen and what has been revealed to me!”

Thomas died in 1274, just under fifty years of age. In 1369, on January 28th, his remains were transferred to Toulouse. In addition to his many theological writings, he composed several eucharistic hymns. They include “O saving Victim” (The Hymnal 1982, #310; #311) and “Now, my tongue, the mystery telling” (The Hymnal 1982, #329; #330; #331).

Lessons and Psalm

First Lesson

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Psalm

1Happy are they whose way is blameless, *who walk in the law of the Lord!

2Happy are they who observe his decrees *and seek him with all their hearts!

3Who never do any wrong, *but always walk in his ways.

4You laid down your commandments, *that we should fully keep them.

5Oh, that my ways were made so direct *that I might keep your statutes!

6Then I should not be put to shame, *when I regard all your commandments.

7I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *when I have learned your righteous judgments.

8I will keep your statutes; *do not utterly forsake me.

Beth

In quo corrigit?

9How shall a young man cleanse his way? *By keeping to your words.

10With my whole heart I seek you; *let me not stray from your commandments.

11I treasure your promise in my heart, *that I may not sin against you.

12Blessed are you, O Lord; *instruct me in your statutes.

13With my lips will I recite *all the judgments of your mouth.

14I have taken greater delight in the way of your decrees *than in all manner of riches.

15I will meditate on your commandments *and give attention to your ways.

16My delight is in your statutes; *I will not forget your word.

Gimel

Retribue servo tuo

17Deal bountifully with your servant, *that I may live and keep your word.

18Open my eyes, that I may see *the wonders of your law.

19I am a stranger here on earth; *do not hide your commandments from me.

20My soul is consumed at all times *with longing for your judgments.

21You have rebuked the insolent; *cursed are they who stray from your commandments!

22Turn from me shame and rebuke, *for I have kept your decrees.

23Even though rulers sit and plot against me, *I will meditate on your statutes.

24For your decrees are my delight, *and they are my counselors.

Daleth

Adhaesit pavimento

25My soul cleaves to the dust; *give me life according to your word.

26I have confessed my ways, and you answered me; *instruct me in your statutes.

27Make me understand the way of your commandments, *that I may meditate on your marvelous works.

28My soul melts away for sorrow; *strengthen me according to your word.

29Take from me the way of lying; *let me find grace through your law.

30I have chosen the way of faithfulness; *I have set your judgments before me.

31I hold fast to your decrees; *O Lord, let me not be put to shame.

32I will run the way of your commandments, *for you have set my heart at liberty.

He

Legem pone

33Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, *and I shall keep it to the end.

34Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; *I shall keep it with all my heart.

35Make me go in the path of your commandments, *for that is my desire.

36Incline my heart to your decrees *and not to unjust gain.

37Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; *give me life in your ways.

38Fulfill your promise to your servant, *which you make to those who fear you.

39Turn away the reproach which I dread, *because your judgments are good.

40Behold, I long for your commandments; *in your righteousness preserve my life.

Waw

Et veniat super me

41Let your loving-kindness come to me, O Lord, *and your salvation, according to your promise.

42Then shall I have a word for those who taunt me, *because I trust in your words.

43Do not take the word of truth out of my mouth, *for my hope is in your judgments.

44I shall continue to keep your law; *I shall keep it for ever and ever.

45I will walk at liberty, *because I study your commandments.

46I will tell of your decrees before kings *and will not be ashamed.

47I delight in your commandments, *which I have always loved.

48I will lift up my hands to your commandments, *and I will meditate on your statutes.

Zayin

Memor esto verbi tui

49Remember your word to your servant, *because you have given me hope.

50This is my comfort in my trouble, *that your promise gives me life.

51The proud have derided me cruelly, *but I have not turned from your law.

52When I remember your judgments of old, *O Lord, I take great comfort.

53I am filled with a burning rage, *because of the wicked who forsake your law.

54Your statutes have been like songs to me *wherever I have lived as a stranger.

55I remember your Name in the night, O Lord, *and dwell upon your law.

56This is how it has been with me, *because I have kept your commandments.

Heth

Portio mea, Domine

57You only are my portion, O Lord; *I have promised to keep your words.

58I entreat you with all my heart, *be merciful to me according to your promise.

59I have considered my ways *and turned my feet toward your decrees.

60I hasten and do not tarry *to keep your commandments.

61Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, *I do not forget your law.

62At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, *because of your righteous judgments.

63I am a companion of all who fear you *and of those who keep your commandments.

64The earth, O Lord, is full of your love; *instruct me in your statutes.

Teth

Bonitatem fecisti

65O Lord, you have dealt graciously with your servant, *according to your word.

66Teach me discernment and knowledge, *for I have believed in your commandments.

67Before I was afflicted I went astray, *but now I keep your word.

68You are good and you bring forth good; *instruct me in your statutes.

69The proud have smeared me with lies, *but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.

70Their heart is gross and fat, *but my delight is in your law.

71It is good for me that I have been afflicted, *that I might learn your statutes.

72The law of your mouth is dearer to me *than thousands in gold and silver.

Yodh

Manus tuae fecerunt me

73Your hands have made me and fashioned me; *give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.

74Those who fear you will be glad when they see me, *because I trust in your word.

75I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right *and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

76Let your loving-kindness be my comfort, *as you have promised to your servant.

77Let your compassion come to me, that I may live, *for your law is my delight.

78Let the arrogant be put to shame, for they wrong me with lies; *but I will meditate on your commandments.

79Let those who fear you turn to me, *and also those who know your decrees.

80Let my heart be sound in your statutes, *that I may not be put to shame.

Kaph

Defecit in salutare

81My soul has longed for your salvation; *I have put my hope in your word.

82My eyes have failed from watching for your promise, *and I say, “When will you comfort me?”

83I have become like a leather flask in the smoke, *but I have not forgotten your statutes.

84How much longer must I wait? *when will you give judgment against those who persecute me?

85The proud have dug pits for me; *they do not keep your law.

86All your commandments are true; *help me, for they persecute me with lies.

87They had almost made an end of me on earth, *but I have not forsaken your commandments.

88In your loving-kindness, revive me, *that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.

Lamedh

In aeternum, Domine

89O Lord, your word is everlasting; *it stands firm in the heavens.

90Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another; *you established the earth, and it abides.

91By your decree these continue to this day, *for all things are your servants.

92If my delight had not been in your law, *I should have perished in my affliction.

93I will never forget your commandments, *because by them you give me life.

94I am yours; oh, that you would save me! *for I study your commandments.

95Though the wicked lie in wait for me to destroy me, *I will apply my mind to your decrees.

96I see that all things come to an end, *but your commandment has no bounds.

Mem

Quomodo dilexi!

97Oh, how I love your law! *all the day long it is in my mind.

98Your commandment has made me wiser than my enemies, *and it is always with me.

99I have more understanding than all my teachers, *for your decrees are my study.

100I am wiser than the elders, *because I observe your commandments.

101I restrain my feet from every evil way, *that I may keep your word.

102I do not shrink from your judgments, *because you yourself have taught me.

103How sweet are your words to my taste! *they are sweeter than honey to my mouth.

104Through your commandments I gain understanding; *therefore I hate every lying way.

Gospel

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Matthew 13:24–30

24 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

Wisdom 7:7–14

7 Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. 8 I preferred her to sceptres and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her. 9 Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her. 10 I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases. 11 All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth. 12 I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them; but I did not know that she was their mother. 13 I learned without guile and I impart without grudging; I do not hide her wealth, 14 for it is an unfailing treasure for mortals; those who get it obtain friendship with God, commended for the gifts that come from instruction.