ACC ~ John 15 v5b

WE COULD DO NOTHING WITHOUT GOD

MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR: The Lord told us, “Outside of me you can do nothing.” This is because our weakness, when moved to do good things, is unable to bring anything to completion without the giver of good things. The one who has come to understand the weakness of human nature has had experience of the divine power. And such a person who because of divine power has succeeded in some things and is eager to succeed in others never looks down on anyone. For he knows that in the same way that God has helped him and freed him from many passions and hardships, so can he help everyone when he wishes, especially those who are striving for his sake. THE FOUR HUNDRED CHAPTERS ON LOVE 2.38-39. [1]

BRANCHES DO NOTHING APART FROM THE VINE

PROSPER OF AQUITAINE:

Hope is not in the fading flower of the field.

For just as no one is able to eat the fruit of the branch

Unless the branch remains in the vine which brings

Sap to the leaves from the root and fills the grapes with must—

So also those who are barren in virtue and without fruit

Shall be fuel for the perpetual fire: those who leave the vine

Dare to put their faith in the immoderate liberty of the leaves,

So that their fruitfulness is not dependent on the fruitfulness of Christ:

And even more, they believe they are able to excel on their own,

As if God is not the author of the virtues that please him… .

[But] why would they be ashamed, especially in this valley of tears,

If their power came from God, that they have a minimum of mortal works,

When it is nothing but sin which has destroyed

Liberty to which alone evil deeds recur?

And yet, when we focus the mind on holy acts,

When a chaste mind refuses carnal desires,

When we do not give in to temptations, and through harsh

Vexing punishments, we remain in our hearts unyielding;

Then we are acting freely; but with a freedom redeemed,

And over which God is ruler as light from the highest light, [there is]

Life, health, virtue, wisdom: It is the grace of Christ

By which freedom runs, rejoices, endures, takes care, chooses, stands,

Believes, hopes, loves, is cleansed and is justified.

For if we are right in anything we do, Lord, we do it only with your help;

You move hearts, you command prayers—those you want to grant you bestow, bestowing Lavishly and producing merit from merits and enriching the gifts of your crown.

But this does not mean I should diminish my care and become lax in the pursuit of virtue, or Become complacent by letting mental apathy hold sway,

Because the good works of the saints are yours,

And whatever in them is pure or strong, depends on you:

So that none of the actions of human beings is seen as occurring entirely apart from your will: For without you what is achieved by the will except to be exiled far away from you?

The paths are always precipitous and the ways twisting

When advancing alone: When our will is exhausted, you are kind; when feeble

You lift it up, you carry it back, you keep it warm, you watch over it and provide it with dignity.

Then it will make rapid progress, its eyes actually seeing, its freedom free, its wisdom wise,

Its justice just, its virtue strong and its senses healed.

ON THE UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE 954-97. [2]

[1] MCSW 52*.

[2] PL 51: 145A-147A.

GRACE

AUGUSTINE: A great encomium on grace, my brothers—one that will instruct the souls of the humble and stop the mouths of the proud! Let those now answer it, if they dare, who, ignorant of God’s righteousness and going about to establish their own, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. Let the self-complacent answer who think they have no need of God for the performance of good works. … They say, It is of God that we have our existence as human beings, but it is of ourselves that we are righteous. What is it you say, you who deceive yourselves and, instead of establishing free will, cast it headlong down from the heights of its self-elevation through the empty regions of presumption into the depths of an ocean grave? Why, your assertion that a person of himself works righteousness, that is the height of your self-elation. … For whoever imagines that he is bearing fruit of himself is not in the vine, and whoever is not in the vine is not in Christ, and whoever is not in Christ is not a Christian. Such are the ocean depths into which you have plunged.

Look further into what the Truth has to say. … For just to keep anyone from supposing that the branch can bear at least some little fruit of itself, after saying, “the same brings forth much fruit,” his next words are not, without me you can do but little, but “you can do nothing.” Whether then it is a little or a lot, without him it is impracticable. For without him nothing can be done. For although, when the branch bears little fruit, the husbandman purges it that it may bring forth more, yet if it does not abide in the vine and draw its life from the root, it can bear no fruit whatever of itself. And although Christ would not have been the vine had he not been man, yet he could not have supplied such grace to the branches had he not also been God. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 81.2-3. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:345-46**.

IN THE FACE OF PRIDE

MARK THE HERMIT: When you have done something good, remember the words, “without me you can do nothing.” ON THE SPIRITUAL LAW 41. [1]

[1] TP 1:113.