ACC ~ John 4 v23

SONS WORSHIP THE “FATHER”

ORIGEN: Twice it is written, “The hour is coming.” The first time it is written without the addition of “and now is.” I think the first alludes to that purely spiritual worship that will begin at the time of perfection. The second, however, means, I think, the worship of those being perfected in this life so far as it is possible for human nature to progress. It is possible, therefore, to worship the Father in spirit and in truth not only when “the hour comes” but also when it “now is.”… For just as the angels do not worship the Father in Jerusalem because they worship the Father in a better way than those in Jerusalem, so those who can already be like the angels [1] in their attitude will not worship the Father in Jerusalem but in a better way than those in Jerusalem….

When, however, someone worships neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem, once the hour has come he worships the Father boldly because he has become a son. Therefore it is not said, “worship God” but “worship the Father.”…

True worshipers worship the Father in spirit and truth not only in the coming hour but also in the present. But those who worship in spirit, since they worship as they have received, worship at present in the pledge of the Spirit. [2] But when they shall receive the Spirit in his fullness, they will worship the Father in spirit. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 13.86-88, 99-100, 112. [3]

[1] See Lk 20:36.

[2] See 2 Cor 5:5.

[3] FC 89:86, 88, 91.

GOD IS ADORED NOT IN A PLACE BUT IN SPIRIT

AMBROSE: She learned the divine mysteries: that God is spirit and is adored not in a place but in spirit. She also learned that Christ is the Messiah and therefore that he who was still awaited by the Jews had already come. Hearing these things, that woman, who manifests the beauty of the church, learned and believed the mysteries of the law. ISAAC, OR THE SOUL 4.26. [1]

[1] FC 65:27*.

WORSHIPING THE FATHER IN SPIRIT IS WORSHIPING THE TRINITY

AMBROSE: What does it mean, then, that the Father is worshiped in Christ, except that the Father is in Christ and the Father speaks in Christ and abides in Christ? He does not abide, indeed, as a body in a body, for God is not a body…. So not an engrafting of a body is meant, but unity of power. Therefore, by unity of power, Christ is jointly worshiped in the Father when God the Father is worshiped in Christ. In the same way then, by unity of the same power the Spirit is jointly worshiped in God when God is worshiped in the Spirit…. When God is said to be worshiped in truth (by the proper meaning of the word itself often expressed after the same manner), it ought to be understood that the Son too is worshiped. So, in the same way, the Spirit is also worshiped because God is worshiped in Spirit. Therefore the Father is worshiped both with the Son and with the Spirit, because the Trinity is worshiped. ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 3.11.82, 85. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 10:146-47**.

THE FATHER SEEKS TRUE WORSHIPERS THROUGH JESUS

ORIGEN: If the Father seeks true worshipers, he seeks them through the Son, “who came to seek and to save that which was lost,” purifying and educating those whom he equips to be true worshipers through the Word and sound doctrine….

God is a Spirit…. God, who brings us into the true life, is called Spirit, and in the Scriptures, the Spirit is said to make us alive. [1] It is clear from this that “making alive” refers not only to ordinary life but to what is more divine. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 13.119, 140. [2]

[1] 2 Cor 3:6.

[2] FC 89:92, 97**; SC 222:94, 106.