ACC ~ John 15 v16b

CHRIST’S PRESENCE ENSURES ABIDING FRUIT

CHRYSOSTOM: Now if your fruit remains, much more shall you. For I have not only loved you, [he says], but I have given you the greatest benefits by extending your branches through the entire world. Do you see in how many ways he shows his love? He shows his love by telling them secrets, by having in the first instance run to meet their friendship, by granting them the greatest blessings, by suffering for them what then he suffered. After this, he shows that he also remains continually with those who shall bring forth fruit. For it is needful to enjoy his help and so to bear fruit. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 77.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:282**; PG 59:415.

WORK FOR FRUIT THAT ENDURES

GREGORY THE GREAT: I have appointed you for grace. I have planted you to go willingly and bring forth fruit by your works. I have said that you should go willingly, since to will to do something is already to go in your heart. Then he adds the quality their fruit is to have: “And your fruit is to endure.” Everything we labor for in this present world scarcely lasts until death. Death intervenes and cuts off the fruit of our labor. But what we do for eternal life remains even after death. It begins to appear only when the fruits of our physical labors cease to be visible. The reward of the one begins when the other is ended. Let one who recognizes that he now bears eternal fruit within his soul think little of the temporal fruits of his labors. Let us work for the fruit that endures; let us work for the fruit that begins at death since death destroys all others. FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 27. [1]

[1] CS 123:216*; PL 76:1207.

FATHER AND SON BOTH ENTREATED

AMBROSE: Let us then with faithful spirit and devout mind call on Jesus our Lord. Let us believe that he is God, to the end that whatever we ask of the Father, we may obtain in his name. For the Father’s will is that he be entreated through the Son. The Son’s will is that the Father be entreated. ON THE CHRISTIAN FAITH 1.2.12. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 10:203*.

HELP OTHERS OBTAIN THE BLESSING OF THE BELIEVER’S PRAYER

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Since therefore you follow in the path of my words and ministry and have the mind that my true disciples should have, it follows that you should not, by your own delay, throw obstacles in the way of someone who of his own will seeks the faith and is self-called to a life of piety. Rather, you should attach yourselves as guides to those who are still ignorant and wandering and bring the gospel of salvation to those who do not yet want to learn it and eagerly encourage them to attain to the true knowledge of God, even though the mind of your hearers may be hardened into disobedience. In other words, bring them more in line with your own condition so they will advance and return to fruit bearing in God by gradually growing in what is better for them. Then they too can have fruit that always remains and is preserved, and they can also have that most desirable object of prayer—the bestowal of whatever they wish, if only they “ask in my name.” COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2. [1]

[1] LF 48:409**.