Where does thomas of aquin in his summa theologiae use psalm 42,1 as a symbol for mens longing for god?

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In the realm of profound contemplation, where reason and faith intertwine, Thomas of Aquin hath embarked upon a wondrous journey within his magnum opus known as the Summa Theologiae. With sagacity of mind and fervor of spirit, he hath summoned the sacred words, the psalms of old, and sought to unravel their intrinsic meaning. It is in the mighty psalm of forty-two, verse one, that Thomas doth glimpse a symbol, a profound likeness betwixt the longing of mortal souls and the soul's yearning for communion with the Divine.

As one delves into the intricate tapestry of Thomas' writings, a radiant thread doth emerge, woven with careful precision from the fabric of Psalm 42, verse one. ‘As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God’, thus David's words doth echo within the chambers of men's hearts. In this verse, Thomas doth discern a mirror, wherein man's longing for God is consigned to the emblematic imagery of a yearning beast, tirelessly seeking solace in the cool embrace of life-giving waters. Just as the deer's parched throat doth pine for the revitalizing stream, so doth the weary soul of man yearn for the divine grace.

For Thomas, it is not solely the surface allure of this psalmic verse that captivates his profound contemplations, but rather the profundity of its underlying truth. It is a truth that resonates through the labyrinthine passages of Thomas' philosophical musings, for he seeks to uncover the interplay betwixt divine transcendence and mortal immanence. In the heart of man, that sacred sanctuary where intellect wrestles with emotions, he finds a reflection of the deer's panting. It is a profound echo of the existential longing, an innate desire of the soul to be united with the eternal.

Within the Summa Theologiae, Thomas proclaims the longing of the human soul to be innate within its very essence, a divine spark that propels man towards a higher purpose. In his profound wisdom, he discerns that man's longing for God is not a superficial longing, but rather a deep yearning that resides within the core of his being. Just as the deer instinctively seeks the streams to quench its thirst, so too does man's soul, imbued with this divine imprint, seek to find fulfillment in the presence of the Almighty.

Moreover, Thomas unravels the multifarious dimensions of this symbol in his exposition of the summa. He posits that this longing, this thirst of the soul, drives man to seek knowledge, salvation, and utmost union with the Divine. Indeed, as the deer seeks the refreshing waters to restore its vitality, so doth man, like a restless wanderer, strive to acquire knowledge and wisdom that will satiate his yearnings. With the noble impulse inherent in his being, man endeavours to assuage his longing by reaching towards the divine grace in a perpetual quest for spiritual fulfillment.

In conclusion, Thomas of Aquin's masterful interpretation of Psalm 42, verse one, provides an illuminating insight into the depths of man's longing for God. Like a profound symphony, his musings resonate with philosophical profundity, fathoming the yearning that courses through the core of human existence. Through the sacred words of the psalmist, a profound truth is revealed, whereby the thirst of the deer symbolizes the longing of the soul, ceaseless and profound. Thomas' recognition of this emblematic reflection allows for a deeper understanding of man's innate quest for the divine, an eternal longing woven into the very fabric of his existence.