SERMON XI.— SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.
On the death of the just.
"The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened." — Matt. xiii. 33.
IN this day's gospel we find that a woman, after putting leaven in the dough, waits till the entire is fermented. Here the Lord gives us to understand that the kingdom of heaven that is, the attainment of eternal beatitude is like the leaven. By the leaven is understood the divine grace, which makes the soul acquire merits for eternal life. But this eternal life is obtained only when”the whole is leavened ;" that is, when the soul has arrived at the end of the present life and the completion of her merits. We shall, then, speak Today of the death of the just, which we should not fear, but should desire with our whole souls. For, says St. Bonaventure, “Triplex in morte congratulatio, hominem ab omni labore, peccato, et periculo liberari." Man should rejoice at death, for three reasons First, because death delivers him from labour that is, from suffering the miseries of this life and the assault of his enemies. Secondly, because it delivers him from actual sins. Thirdly, because it delivers him from the danger of falling into hell, and opens Paradise to him.
First Point. Death delivers us from the miseries of this life, and from the assaults of our enemies.
1. What is death? St. Eucherius answers, that “death is the end of miseries." Job said that our life, however short it may be, is full of miseries, of infirmities, of crosses, of persecutions, and fears. “Man born of a woman, living for a short time, is filled with many miseries." (Job xiv. 1.) What, says St. Augustine, do men who wish for a prolongation of life on this earth desire but a prolongation of suffering ?" “Quid est diu vivere nisi diu tor queri." (Serm. xviL de Serb. Dom.) Yes; for, as St. Ambrose remarks, the present life was
