John xvi. 23, 24. Jesus tells us that His holy Disciples will be more
courageous and more understanding when they would be, as the Scripture says, Endowed with power from on high (Lk.
xxiv. 49), and that when their minds would be illumined by the torch of
the Spirit they would be able to see into all things, even though no longer
able to question Him bodily present among them. The Saviour does
not say that they would no longer as before need the light of His guidance,
but that when they had received His Spirit, when He was dwelling in their
hearts, they would not be wanting in any good thing, and their minds would
be filled with most perfect knowledge.
And by perfect knowledge we mean that knowledge which is true and undistorted,
which withholds itself from thinking or speaking whatever is perverse,
and has a right belief in the Holy and Consubstantial Trinity. For
though we now as it were see through a glass in a dark manner, and know
only in part, as Paul tells us (I Cor. 12), nevertheless, as long as we
adhere carefully to that which has been taught us, and follow close to
the mind of the holy and divinely revealed Scriptures, we shall possess
a knowledge which is not imperfect, and such as no one may make his own
unless first enlightened by the Holy Spirit.
In this way He urges the Disciples to seek for spiritual gifts, and
at the same time gives them confidence that, should they ask for them,
they will not fail to obtain them; adding the word Amen, that He
might confirm their belief that should they ask the Father anything they
would receive it from Him; He acting as their Mediator and making known
their request, and, One with the Father, granting it. For this is
what He means by in my name; for we cannot draw nigh to God the
Father otherwise than through the Son. For it is by Him we have access
in the one Spirit to the Father; as it is written (Eph. ii. 8). It
was because of this He said: I am the door; I am the way. No man
cometh to the Father, but by me (Jn. x. 7; xiv. 6). For as the
Son is God He, One with the Father, provides good things for His sanctified,
and is found to be generous of His Bounty to us.
And regarding this the divine Paul has given us the clearest testimony,
where he writes: Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and from
the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. i. 7). And as our Mediator (I Tim.
ii. 5.) and our High Priest (Heb. iv. 14) and our Advocate (I Jn. ii. 1),
He intercedes with the Father for us. He is our assurance in the
presence of the Father. Let us then offer our prayers in Christ’s
Name. For in this way will the Father most readily consent to them,
and grant His graces to those who seek them, that receiving them we may
rejoice.
Filled therefore with spiritual gifts, and enriched by the fulness of
understanding because of His Spirit dwelling within us, let us fight vigorously
against every unfitting as well as evil lust, and so doing all things well,
and going forward towards every virtue, with fervent zeal, and sustained
by all things whatsoever that lead to holiness, let us rejoice exceedingly
in the hope of the reward to come, and drawing away from the sadness that
rises up from an evil conscience, let us enrich our minds with the joys
of Christ.
This grace was not given to those of old. For they did not because
of ignorance make use of this manner of prayer. Now it is laid down
for us by Christ, and most fittingly. For the time of making straight
has shone out, and the time of fulfilment been ushered in. For
as the Law brought nothing to perfection (Heb. vii. 19), and that justice
was incom-plete which belonged to it, so also was its manner of prayer.
Amen.
