The Academic Sermons (The Fathers of the Church, Mediaeval Continuation, Volume 11): Mediaeval Continuation, Volume 11)

Sermon 04: Osanna Filio David

46 SERMON 04 OSANNA FILIO DAVID Another Sermon on Advent1 Matthew 21.9: Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Part 1: Prothema OSANNA TO the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” [Mt 21.9]. These words are spoken by the crowds praising Christ. These crowds clung to Christ. And so, please God, let us ask the Lord at the beginning to make us cling to him, so that we may understand his teaching. Part 2: Sermo “Hosanna” [Mt 21.9], et cetera. In these words we can consider three things to the praise of our Savior: (1) first, the task of our Savior; (2) second, the privilege of his origin; and (3) third, the highest point of his power. E (1) First, I say that the task of our Savior is mentioned where it says: “Hosanna.” The proper task of the Savior is that he is a savior; indeed, for this he came into the world, “to seek and save what was lost” [Lk 19.10]. Is 45.15 reads: “Truly, you are a hidden God, God of Israel, Savior.” And it is therefore that his name signifies salvation. Hence we read in Mt 1.21: “His name shall be called Jesus, for he will save (his people from “ 1. This sermon was given on the first Sunday of Advent, December 1, 1269. SERMON 04 47 their sins).”2 And this task of savior is mentioned because it says: “Hosanna,” which is compounded from the corrupted and the pure. For “hosanna” is the same as “hosyanna,” which means: “Save, I beseech.” For they would have implored salvation from him in vain unless they had believed in him as savior.3 Well, note that the human race was in need of salvation for three reasons: (1.1) first, because of the perversity of sin; (1.2) second, because of the oppression by enemies; and (1.3) third, because of the rejection of the glory of the world. (1.1) First, I say: the human race was in need of salvation because of the perversity of sin. For when people who are ill are cured from their illness, they are called “saved.” Therefore, the Lord says: “Your faith has saved you” [Mt 9.22]. Sin is a spiritual illness;4 thus sinners are in need of salvation. The Psalmist says: “Salvation is far away from sinners” [Ps 119.155]. For example, someone is sick to death; the doctor will say that the person who is ill is far from salvation.5 Anyone who is in the state of mortal sin6 is sick to death, and sinners cannot reach salvation by themselves.7 Therefore, salvation, that is, Jesus Christ [cf. Ex 15.2], has drawn near to them—he who became like us in all things [cf. Heb 2.17] “emptied himself, taking on the form of a slave, was made in the likeness of the people, and through his condition was found a man” [Phil 2.6–7], who accepted the human nature, and underwent suffering.8 The Apostle is teaching 2. This verse is also cited in ST III intr.; salvation history is the framework in which Thomas speaks of Christ, the sacraments, and the last things. See also ST III 37,2. 3. Thus linguistically “Hosanna” is a corruption, whereas the person who utters this corruption is pure. 4. Cf. ST II–II 15; III 44,1. In ST III 1,3–4 Thomas speaks in the context of Incarnation and sin in terms of remedium, medicine. Elsewhere, he even calls sin the death of the soul, in ST I–II 102,5,4. 5. The Latin text reads: longe a salute; in Latin and also in, for instance, Spanish (salud) and Italian (salute), “salvation” and “health” are the same or etymologically connected. 6. ST I–II 72,5, 88. 7. ST I–II 68,2, 79,4; II–II 2,3 and 2,7–8; III 46,1,1. 8. Undergoing something (passio) distinguishes the human nature from the divine nature; cf. ST III 46,12. Jesus Christ’s passio tells us that he was truly 48 THOMAS AQUINAS that we are to rejoice because of this, saying: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: Rejoice, for the Lord is near” [Phil 4.4], namely, in...