"Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”" (John 6:60.)
Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this verse from the Gospel proclaimed during today’s Mass:
“If his disciples considered this a hard saying, what must his enemies have thought? But it was necessary that there would be some things that should not be understood by all. The secret of God should make people more eager and attentive, not hostile. . . . But the people did not perceive that what he said had a deeper meaning or that grace went along with it. Rather, receiving the matter in their own way and taking his words in a human sense, they understood him as if he spoke of the cutting of the flesh of the Word into pieces for distribution to those who believed on him.
For the Son of man is Christ, of the Virgin Mary. Therefore the Son of man began to be here on earth where he took on himself flesh from the earth. For this reason, in prophecy it had been said, “Truth has arisen out of the earth.”3 What, then, does it mean, “When you see the Son of man ascending where he was before”? For there would be no question if he had said it this way: “If you should see the Son of God ascending where he was before.” But when he said “the Son of man ascending where he was before,” was the Son of man in heaven before the time when he began to be on earth? Here he said, “Where he was before,” as if then he were not there when he was speaking these words. But in another place he said, “No man has ascended into heaven except he who has descended from heaven: the Son of man who is in heaven.”4 He did not say “was,” but he said, “The Son of man who is in heaven.” He was speaking on earth and said he was in heaven. And he did not say it this way: “No one has ascended into heaven except he who has descended from heaven; the Son of God who is in heaven.”
Where does this lead except that we understand—as also in my previous sermon I showed you,5 my beloved people—that Christ, God and man is one person, not two? In this way our faith is only a Trinity and not a quaternity. Therefore Christ is one, the Word, soul and flesh, one Christ; the Son of God and the Son of man, one Christ. The Son of God always, the Son of man in time, nevertheless, one Christ according to the unity of the person. He was in heaven when he was speaking on earth. So the Son of man was in heaven as the Son of God was on earth. The Son of God was on earth in the flesh he had taken, the Son of man was in heaven in the unity of person.” (Tractates on the Gospel of John, 27.)
For the Son of man is Christ, of the Virgin Mary. Therefore the Son of man began to be here on earth where he took on himself flesh from the earth. For this reason, in prophecy it had been said, “Truth has arisen out of the earth.”3 What, then, does it mean, “When you see the Son of man ascending where he was before”? For there would be no question if he had said it this way: “If you should see the Son of God ascending where he was before.” But when he said “the Son of man ascending where he was before,” was the Son of man in heaven before the time when he began to be on earth? Here he said, “Where he was before,” as if then he were not there when he was speaking these words. But in another place he said, “No man has ascended into heaven except he who has descended from heaven: the Son of man who is in heaven.”4 He did not say “was,” but he said, “The Son of man who is in heaven.” He was speaking on earth and said he was in heaven. And he did not say it this way: “No one has ascended into heaven except he who has descended from heaven; the Son of God who is in heaven.”
Where does this lead except that we understand—as also in my previous sermon I showed you,5 my beloved people—that Christ, God and man is one person, not two? In this way our faith is only a Trinity and not a quaternity. Therefore Christ is one, the Word, soul and flesh, one Christ; the Son of God and the Son of man, one Christ. The Son of God always, the Son of man in time, nevertheless, one Christ according to the unity of the person. He was in heaven when he was speaking on earth. So the Son of man was in heaven as the Son of God was on earth. The Son of God was on earth in the flesh he had taken, the Son of man was in heaven in the unity of person.” (Tractates on the Gospel of John, 27.)
Collect
O God,
Who cause the minds of the faithful
to unite in a single purpose,
grant your people to love what You command
and to desire what You promise, that,
amid the uncertainties of this world,
our hearts may be fixed on that place
where true gladness is found.
Through our lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Who cause the minds of the faithful
to unite in a single purpose,
grant your people to love what You command
and to desire what You promise, that,
amid the uncertainties of this world,
our hearts may be fixed on that place
where true gladness is found.
Through our lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
