Today is the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church. From his sermon, Beato gens:
Understand that in Sacred Scripture the end of man is likened to three things. First, it is compared to a crown. For this reason, the Apostle (says at) 2 Timothy 4:8, As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice. Sometimes it is compared to a prize. Whence, the Apostle (says in his letter to the) Philipians 3:14, I press towards the mark, to the prize of the supernal vocation. Lastly, it is sometimes compared to a reward. Whence (it is said) in the Gospel of Matthew 5:12, Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. Not undeservedly did the Son of Man refer himself to these three, because the whole of our activity is reduced to three things.
The activity of some is after the manner of battles, so far as concerns their effects. Whence, (it is said at) Job 7:1, The life of man upon earth is a warfare; and a crown is due to those who have fought lawfully in these (battles), because (as it is said at) 2 Timothy 2:5, For he also that striveth for the mastery, is not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
(The activity of) others (is such that they) run, like those who contemplate; and these people have nothing slowing them down, but they run swiftly. (David) speaks of these people at Psalm 118:32, I have run the way of thy commandments. But for those [running], a prize is due. (Whence) the Apostle (says at) 1 Corinthians 9:24, All run . . . but one receiveth the prize.
Others are laborers, prelates for example, who perform beneficial works among the people; and to these (prelates) is due a reward. Whence, the Apostle (says at) 1 Corinthians 3:8, Every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor.
I've replaced 'fighting' in the third paragraph with 'running'; the former is a typo.
