ACC ~ John 14 v31b

EACH ONE, FOLLOWING JESUS, SHOULD ARISE FROM THE EARTH

AMBROSE: Let us withdraw from the bond of the body and leave everything earthly so that when the adversary comes he may find nothing of his in us. Let us strive for the eternal and fly up to the divine on the wings of love and the oars of charity. Let us rise up from here, that is, from the things of the age and those of the world. For the Lord has said, “Rise, let us be on our way,” teaching that each one should arise from the earth, raise up his soul that lies on the ground, lift it to the things that are above and call forth his eagle, the eagle of whom it is said, “Your youth will be renewed like the eagle’s.” [1] DEATH AS A GOOD 5.16. [2]

[1] Ps 103:5 (102:5 LXX, Vg).

[2] FC 65:82; CSEL 32 1:717-18. See also Ambrose Flight from the World 1.4 (FC 65:283).

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE SPIRIT

CHRYSOSTOM: For they who now trembled and feared, after they had received the Spirit sprang into the midst of dangers and stripped themselves for the contest against steel, and fire, and wild beasts, and seas, and every kind of punishment. And they, the unlettered and ignorant, spoke so boldly as to astonish their hearers. For the Spirit made them men of iron instead of men of clay, gave them wings and allowed them to be cast down by nothing human. For such is that grace: if it finds despondency, it disperses it; if evil desires, it consumes them; if cowardice, it casts it out and does not allow one who has partaken of it to be afterward a mere person but, as it were removing him to heaven itself, causes him to imagine to himself all that is there. [1] HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 75.5. [2]

[1] Acts 4:32, 2:46.

[2] NPNF 1 14:277*.