Tractates on the Gospel of John 55–111

Tractate 73

TRACTATE 73 Again On The Same Reading John 14.10–14 reat hope to his people hoping1 did the Lord promise, saying, “Because I go to the Father, and whatsoever you ask in my name, that I will do.”2 Therefore he went on to the Father in such a way that he would not leave them in need, but would hear them when they ask. But what is “whatsoever you ask,” since we see that very often his faithful ask and do not receive? Can it be perhaps precisely because they ask wrongly? For the Apostle James made this reproach, saying, “You ask and you do not receive because you ask wrongly, that you may squander it on your lusts.”3 If he will use wrongly, therefore, what he wants to receive, he does not receive it, with God rather showing him pity. Accordingly, if this request is made of him by which the person, if heard, may be harmed, one must be more afraid that he may give in anger what he could not give in graciousness. (2) Can we not see that the Israelites had obtained to their harm what they sought with a blameworthy lust?4 For they had greatly desired to feed on flesh, for whom manna rained down from the sky. For they loathed what they had, and they shamelessly asked for what they did not have, as if it were not better for them to have asked, not that the food that was lacking be furnished to their unseemly desire, but that, once their loathing was healed, that which was there be taken up. For when evil things delight us, and good things do not delight us, we ought to ask God rather that the good 1. Some codices read: “praying.” 2. See Tractate 71.3, note 6. 3. Jas 4.3. 4. See Nm 11. 84 things delight us than that the evil ones be granted. Not because it is evil to eat flesh, since the Apostle, speaking about this matter, says, “Every creature of God is good; and nothing is to be rejected that is received with thanksgiving,”5 but because he himself likewise said, “It is evil for the man who eats with offence,”6 and if with an offence to man, how much more to God! And among the Israelites the offence to him was not small, to repudiate what Wisdom gave and to ask for that for which their lust hankered, although they were not even asking, but muttering because it was lacking. But, that we might know that God’s creature is not blameworthy , but obstinate disobedience and disordered desire are, not because of pork, but because of a fruit,7 the first man found death, and Esau lost his birthright, not because of chicken, but because of lentil.8 2. Therefore, how must “whatsoever you ask, that I will do” be understood if, when the faithful ask, God does not do some things, actually out of concern for their best interests ? Can it be perhaps that we ought to take this as said to the Apostles alone? Perish the thought! For at the point where he comes to this to say it, he had earlier said, “He who believes in me, whatever works I do, he will do, and greater than these he will do.” And we discussed this matter in the previous discourse. And, that no one might attribute this to himself, that he might show that he was also doing those greater works, he added and said, “because I go to the Father, and whatsoever you ask in my name, that I will do.” Did the Apostles alone believe in him? And so by saying “he who believes in me,” he was speaking to those among whom by his gift we also are, who surely do not receive whatsoever we ask. (2) Also, if we should think of the most blessed Apostles themselves, we find that he who labored more than all, not however on his own, but the grace of God with him,9 had asked the Lord three times that the angel of Satan leave him, and yet he had not received what he had TRACTATE 73 85 5. 1 Tm 4.4. 6. Rom 14.20. 7. See Gn 3.6. 8. See Gn 25.27–34. 9. 1 Cor 15.10. asked.10 What shall we say, dearest...