ACC ~ Luke 3 v7 - 9

JOHN’S CALL TO REPENT IS FOR EVERYONE

ORIGEN: To you who are coming to baptism, Scripture says, “Bear fruits that befit repentance.” Do you want to know what fruits befit repentance? Love is a fruit of the Spirit. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. So are peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control, [1] and the others of this sort. If we have all of these virtues, we have produced “fruits that befit repentance.” … John, the last of the prophets, prophesies the expulsion of the first nation and the call of the Gentiles. To those who were boasting about Abraham he says, “Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for a father.’” And again he speaks about the Gentiles, “For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.”

From what stones? Surely he was not pointing to irrational, material stones but to people who were uncomprehending and sometimes hard. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 22.6, 8-9. [2]

[1] Gal 5:22.

[2] FC 94:95-96*.

REPENTANCE REQUIRES ALMSGIVING

AUGUSTINE: In a word, therefore, let us all listen, and seriously reflect what great merit there is in having fed Christ when he was hungry—and what sort of a crime it is to have ignored Christ when he was hungry. Repentance for our sins does indeed change us for the better. But even repentance will not appear to be of much use to us if works of mercy do not accompany it. Truth bears witness to this through John, who said to those who came to him, “Bear fruits that befit repentance.” And so those who haven’t produced such fruits have no reason to suppose that by a barren repentance they will earn pardon for their sins. SERMON 389.6. [1]

[1] WSA 3 10:411**.

THE BAPTISM OF GENTILE STONES FULFILLS THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Can you see how most skillfully he humbles their foolish pride and shows that their being born of Abraham according to the flesh brings them no profit? Of what benefit is nobility of birth, if people’s deeds are not accordingly earnest and they fail to imitate the virtue of their ancestors? The Savior says to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what Abraham did.” [1] The relationship that God requires is one of character and manners. Thus it is useless to boast of holy and good parents, while we fall short of their virtue.

But, says the Jew, if it is so, how is the seed of Abraham still to be multiplied? How can God’s promise to him hold true, according to which he will multiply his seed as the stars of heaven? By the calling of the Gentiles, O Jew! God said to Abraham himself, “Through Isaac shall your descendants be named,” [2] adding that he has set Abraham as a father of many nations. But the phrase “through Isaac” means “according to promise.” He is set, therefore, as a father of many nations by faith, that is to say, in Christ.

As can be seen, the blessed Baptist called them stones, because they as yet did not know the one who is by nature God. They were in error and in their great folly worshiped the creation instead of the Creator. But they were called and became the sons of Abraham and, by believing in Christ, acknowledged him who is by nature God. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 7. [3]

[1] Jn 8:39.

[2] Gen 21:12

[3] CGSL 71-72**.

GEHENNA FOR ALL WHO DO NOT PRODUCE GOOD WORKS

GREGORY THE GREAT: The tree is the entire human race in this world. The axe is our Redeemer. His humanity is like the axe’s handle and iron head. It is his divinity that cuts. The axe is now laid at the root of the tree because, although he is waiting patiently, what he will do is nonetheless apparent.

Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Every wicked person, refusing to bear the fruit of good works in this life, will find the conflagration of Gehenna all the more swiftly prepared for him or her. We must note that he says that the axe is laid not at the branches but at the root. When the children of evil persons are destroyed, what else does this mean but that the branches of the tree that bears no fruit are being cut off? When an entire progeny is destroyed, as well as its parents, the tree that bears no fruit is being cut down from its root. Then nothing will be left from which descendants might sprout again. FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 6. [1]

[1] CS 123:42.

THE AXE IS GOD’S WRATH, BUT A REMNANT IS SAVED

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: What he means by the axe in this passage is the sharp wrath which God the Father brought on the Jews for their wickedness towards Christ and brazen violence. The wrath was brought on them like an axe. To this you may also add the parable in the Gospels about the fig tree. As an unfruitful plant, no longer of the generous kind, it was cut down by God. John does not say, however, that the axe was laid into the root, but at the root, that is, near the root. The branches were cut off, but the plant was not dug up by its root. Thus the remnant of Israel was saved and did not perish utterly. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 7. [1]

[1] CGSL 72**.