ACC ~ John 16 v22

TRUE JOY IS IN CHRIST

CYPRIAN: Does it delight us to stand here long among the swords of the devil when we should rather long for and choose to hurry toward Christ? … Who would not choose to be free from sorrow? Who would not speed toward joy? But our sorrow is indeed to be turned into joy, as our Lord makes clear… To see Christ is to rejoice, and we cannot have joy unless we see him. What blindness of mind or what foolishness is it to love the world’s afflictions, and punishments and tears, and not rather to rush to the joy that can never be taken away! ON MORTALITY. 5. [1]

[1] ANF 5:470**.

JOY FUTURE

AUGUSTINE: Now the church is in travail, longing for this fruit of all its labor. Then [i.e., in the future] it will bring it to birth in its actual contemplation. Now it is groaning and in labor; then it will bring forth in joy. Now it brings forth in prayer; then it will bring forth in praise. And accordingly it is a male child since it is toward this fruit of [the church’s] eager longing that all the tasks of its activity are directed. For he alone is free of every bond, for he is desired of himself and not for any other end. All its actions are in service to him. For what is worthily done is directed toward him because it is done for his sake. He is to be had and to be held because of himself, not because of another beyond him. Here then is the end that contents us. Therefore it shall be eternal, for no end will suffice for us if it is not the One of which there is no end. It was this thought that inspired Philip when he said, “Show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” [1] And in that showing the Son promises us himself also. … This is the joy that “no one shall take from you.” TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 101.5. [2]

[1] Jn 14:8.

[2] NPNF 1 7:388**.