ACC ~ John 16 v7b
THE PARACLETE COMFORTS THE DISCIPLES AND US
BEDE: It is evident, and there is no need of a lengthy explanation why he calls this Spirit “the Paraclete,” that is, “the Consoler.” [The Spirit’s] coming consoled and refreshed the hearts of the disciples when [Christ’s] departure had caused them to be sad. But also, when [the Spirit] inspires a hope of pardon and heavenly mercy in any individual believers who are saddened about the commission of sin or are laboring under the ordinary afflictions of this life, he unquestionably relieves them of the anguish of their sorrow by enlightening their minds. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 2.11. [1]
[1] CS 111:100.
WE BECOME PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE THROUGH THE SPIRIT
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: After Christ had completed his mission on earth, it still remained necessary that we should become partakers and sharers of the divine nature of the Word. We had to give up our own life and be so transformed that we would begin to live an entirely new kind of life that would be pleasing to God. However, this was something we could do only by sharing in the Holy Spirit. And the most fitting and appropriate time for the mission and descent of the Holy Spirit to us was … the occasion of our Savior’s departure to heaven. As long as Christ was with them in the flesh, the believers would have thought that they possessed all the blessings he had to offer. But when the time came for him to ascend to his Father in heaven, it was necessary for him to be united through his Spirit to those who worshiped him and to dwell in our hearts through faith. Only by his presence within us in this way could he give us the confidence to cry out, “Abba, Father,” and enable us to grow in holiness and, through our possession of the all-powerful Spirit, strengthen us to become invincible against the traps of the devil and the assaults of our fellow human beings. [1] …
You see that the Spirit changes those in whom he comes to dwell and alters the whole pattern of their lives. … With the Spirit within them it is quite natural for people who had been absorbed by the things of this world to become entirely other-worldly in their outlook and for cowards to become people of great courage. There is no question that this is what happened to the disciples. The strength they received from the Spirit enabled them to hold firmly to the love of Christ, facing the violence of the persecutors without fear. What our Savior said, then, was very true, that is, that it was to their advantage that he return to heaven. For that return was the occasion for the descent of the Spirit. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2. [2]
[1] Cyril goes on to cite 1 Sam 10:6 and 2 Cor 3:17-18 as examples of how the Spirit changes the disposition of those in whom he dwells.
[2] LF 48:443-44**.
FAITH MOVES BEYOND CHRIST IN THE FLESH
AUGUSTINE: For what does this mean, “If I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send him to you”? Was it that he could not send him while located here himself? Who would venture to say so? Neither was it that the other [i.e., the Spirit] had withdrawn from where he was or that he had come from the Father in such a way that he did not still remain with the Father. And still further, how could he, even when having his own dwelling on earth, be unable to send him, who we know came and remained upon him at his baptism? [1] And even more so, how could this be the case when we know that the Son was never separable from [the Spirit]? What does it mean, then, “If I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you?” It means that you cannot receive the Spirit so long as you continue to know Christ after the flesh. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 94.4. [2]
[1] See Jn 1:32.
[2] NPNF 1 7:368*.
BODILY VISION GIVES WAY TO SPIRITUAL VISION
GREGORY THE GREAT. It is as if he said plainly, If I do not withdraw my body from your eyes, I cannot lead you to the understanding of the invisible through the comforting Spirit. MORALS ON THE BOOK OF JOB 8.24.41. [1]
[1] LF 18:447**.
THE FORM OF SERVANT GIVES WAY TO THE FORM OF GOD
AUGUSTINE: The Holy Spirit the Comforter has brought us this blessing: that the form of the servant, received from the Virgin’s womb, being once removed from the sight of our bodily eyes, we might start to focus the attention of purified minds on the very form of God in which he remained equal to the Father even when he had graciously appeared in the flesh. SERMON 143.3. [1]
[1] WSA 3 4:426-27**.
THE SPIRITUAL PRESENCE OF THE TRINITY ENABLED WITHIN US
AUGUSTINE: But with Christ’s bodily departure, both the Father and the Son, as well as the Holy Spirit, were spiritually present with them. For if Christ had left them so that the Holy Spirit replaced him rather than dwelling along with him, what would have become of his promise, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world” [1] and, I and the Father “will come to him and will make our dwelling with him”? [2] He had also promised that he would send the Holy Spirit in such a way that he would be with them forever. Jesus knew, however, that though they were presently in a carnal condition, they would undoubtedly possess in a more comprehensive way both the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. But we should in no way think that the Father is present without the Son and the Holy Spirit or [vice versa]. … Wherever any one of them is, there also is the Trinity, one God. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 94.5. [3]
[1] Mt 28:20.
[2] Jn 14:23.
[3] NPNF 1 7:368**.
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