ACC ~ John 12 v24

THE SEED MUST DIE BEFORE BEING RESURRECTED

AMBROSE: How many more wonders appear, if you examine each plant, noticing how the seed when laid in the earth decays and, if it did not die, would bear no fruit. But when it decays, by that very act of death, it rises up to bear fruit in greater abundance. The pliable sod receives, then, a grain of wheat. The scattered seed is controlled by the use of the hoe, and mother earth cherishes it in firm embraces to her breast. When that grain decays, there comes the pleasing aspect of the green burgeoning shoot, which immediately reveals its kind from its similarity to its own seed, so that you may discover the nature of the plant even in the very beginning of its growth, and its fruit, too, is made evident to you. SIX DAYS OF CREATION 3.8.34. [1]

[1] FC 42:92-93*; CSEL 32 1:81.

JESUS AS THE GRAIN OF WHEAT

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: However, he says, my death must not upset you. As indeed a grain of wheat is just a single grain before falling into the earth, after it has fallen and decomposed, it sprouts forth in great glory and produces double fruit by showing before everyone its riches in its ears and displaying the spectacle of its beauty to those looking on. This is the same way you should think about me. Now I am alone, and just one more man among obscure people without any glory. But when I undergo the passion of the cross, I will be raised in great honor. And when I produce much fruit then everyone will know me—not only the Jews but also the people of the entire world will call me their Lord. Then, not even the spiritual powers will refuse to worship me. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 5.12.24. [1]

[1] CSCO 4 3:240.

DYING GRAIN BECOMES THE EUCHARIST

IRENAEUS: A cutting from the vine planted in the ground bears fruit in its season, or a kernel of wheat falling into the earth and becoming decomposed rises and is multiplied by the Spirit of God, who contains all things. And then, through the wisdom of God, it serves for our use when, after receiving the Word of God, it becomes the Eucharist, which is the body and blood of Christ. In the same way our bodies, being nourished by it, and deposited in the earth and suffering decomposition there, shall rise at their appointed time. The Word of God grants them resurrection to the glory of God, even the Father who freely gives to this mortal immortality, and to this corruptible incorruption. [1] This is so because the strength of God is made perfect in weakness [2] in order that we may never become puffed up, as if we had life from ourselves, or become exalted against God with ungrateful minds. AGAINST HERESIES 5.2.3. [3]

[1] 1 Cor 15:53.

[2] See 1 Cor 15:43; 2 Cor 13:4.

[3] ANF 1:528; SC 153:36-38. See also Against Heresies 5.7.2.

CHRIST THE ONE SHEAF MADE UP OF MANY STALKS

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Christ is also symbolized by a sheaf of grain, as a brief explanation will show.

The human race may be compared with stalks of wheat in a field rising, as it were, from the earth, awaiting their full growth and development, and then in time being cut down by the reaper, which is death. The comparison is apt, since Christ himself spoke of our race in this way when he said to his holy disciples, “Do you not say, ‘Four months and it will be harvest time?’ Look at the fields; I tell you, they are already white and ready for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving his wages and bringing in a crop for eternal life.” [1] …

Now Christ became like one of us. He sprang from the holy Virgin like a stalk of wheat from the ground. Indeed, he spoke of himself as a grain of wheat when he said, “I tell you truly, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains as it was, a single grain, but if it dies its yield is very great.” And so, like a sheaf of grain, the firstfruits, as it were, of the earth, he offered himself to the Father for our sake.

For we do not think of a stalk of wheat in isolation any more than we do of ourselves. We think of it rather as part of a sheaf, which is a single bundle made up of many stalks. The stalks have to be gathered into a bundle before they can be used, and this is the key to the mystery they represent, the mystery of Christ, who, though one, appears in the image of a sheaf to be made up of many, as in fact he is. Spiritually, he contains in himself all believers. “As we have been raised up with him,” writes Paul, “so we have also been enthroned with him in heaven.” [2] He is a human being like ourselves, and this had made us one body with him, the body being the bond that unites us. We can say, therefore, that in him we are all one, and indeed he himself says to God, his heavenly Father, “It is my desire that as you and I are one, so they also may be one in us.” [3] GLAPHYRA ON NUMBERS 2. [4]

[1] Jn 4:35-36.

[2] Eph 2:6.

[3] See Jn 17:11.

[4] JFB 38-39*; PG 69:621-24.

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