ACC ~ John 7 v37

PROVISIONS FOR THE WAY

CHRYSOSTOM: Since the feast was over and the people were about to return home, our Lord gives them provisions for the way. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 51.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:183*.

THOSE WHO ARE THIRSTY DRINK FROM THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST

AUGUSTINE: Hold on to the gift but acknowledge the giver. When the Lord promised he was going to give his Spirit, he said, “If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, rivers of living water will flow from his belly.” Where does this river in you come from? Remember your former dryness. I mean, if you had not been dry, you would not have been thirsty. If you had not been thirsty, you would not have drunk. What do I mean when I say: if you had not been thirsty, you would not have believed in Christ? Unless you had discovered how empty you were, you would not have believed in Christ. Before saying “rivers of living water will flow from his belly,” he first said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come and drink.” The reason you will have a river of living water is that you drink. You do not drink if you are not thirsty. SERMON 160.2. [1]

[1] WSA 3 5:129*.

A PITCHER NO LONGER NEEDED WITH CHRIST

DIDYMUS THE BLIND: Some are able to drink from the fountain without the pitcher. Rebekah, which means steadfastness in the good, stepped down to the fountain and scooped the water with the pitcher in order to give the thirsty servant [of Abraham] to drink, but she herself drank from the fountain without the pitcher…. The imperfect knowledge and the imperfect prophecy [1] are the pitcher filled from the fountain. When the imperfect will pass away, [2] the pitcher is broken. Its content, however, is not lost…. When one does not need to drink from the pitcher anymore because the Savior has given to drink and prepared in the person who drinks a spring of living water, then the pitcher is not needed for the person who has the fountain of living water [3] inside. COMMENTARY ON ECCLESIASTES 361.9. [4]

[1] 1 Cor 13:9.

[2] 1 Cor 13:10.

[3] Jn 4:14.

[4] PTA 9 6:235-39.