ACC ~ John 9 v5

THE LIGHT OF SOULS AND OF THE BLIND

THEODORE OF HERACLEA: He calls himself light both because he enlightens the souls of those who believe and because he was about to open the eyes of the one who was blind from birth. FRAGMENTS ON JOHN 71. [1]

[1] JKGK 85.

THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS OF DUST

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: And he brought forth the light from the dust, just as he had done in the beginning, when there was a shadow of the heavens. “Darkness was spread out over everything.” [1] He gave a command to the light, and it was born from the darkness. Thus also here, he formed clay from his saliva, and he supplied was what lacking in creation, which was from the beginning, to show that what was lacking in nature was being supplied by his hand. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 16.28. [2]

[1] Gen 1:2-3.

[2] CB709:186-188.

THE LIGHT LASTS UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD

AUGUSTINE: What is that night in which, when it comes, no one shall be able to work? Hear what the day is, and then you will understand what the night is. But how shall we hear what the day is? Let he himself tell us: “As long as I am in this world, I am the light of the world.” See, he himself is the day…. The natural day is completed by the circuit of the sun and contains only a few hours. The day of Christ’s presence will last to the end of the world, for he himself has said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” [1] TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 44.5-6. [2]

[1] Mt 28:20.

[2] NPNF 1 7:246-47**.

THE BLINDING BRIGHTNESS OF THE LORD

CHRYSOSTOM: “Believe while the light is with you,” [1] he said to others. Why then did Paul call this life “night” and that other “day”? He was not opposing Christ but saying the same thing, even if not in those exact words—although the sense is the same. For he also says, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” [2] He calls the present time “night,” because of those who sit in darkness or because he compares it with that day that is to come. Christ calls the future “night” because sin has no power to work there, but Paul calls the present life “night” because those who continue in wickedness and unbelief are in darkness. Addressing himself then to the faithful, he said, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand,” since they should enjoy that light. And he calls the old life night. “Let us put away,” he says, “the works of darkness.” Do you see that he tells them that it is “night”? Therefore he says, “Let us walk honestly as in the day,” that we may enjoy that light. For if this light is so good, consider what that light will be. As much as the sunlight is brighter than the flame of a candle, so much and far more is that light better than this. And signifying this, Christ says that “the sun shall be darkened.” Because of the excess of that brightness, not even the sun shall be seen. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 56.3. [3]

[1] Jn 12:36.

[2] Rom 13:12.

[3] NPNF 1 14:202-3**.

Jn