[39] De Trin ., 8; PL 10; cf. Catena Aurea, 14:18-21.
[40] Tract. in Io ., 75, ch. 5, col. 1830; cf. Catena Aurea , 14:18-21.
[41] St. Thomas quotes Jn 14:23 in the Summa Theologiae : II-II, q. 184, a. 3, obj. 3; Jn 14:28: ST I, q. 42, a. 4, obj. 1; Jn 14:23: ST I, q. 43, a. 4 obj. 2 and a. 5.
[42] H omiliae in Evangelista XXX , ch.1; PL 76, col. 1220C; cf. Catena Aurea, 14:22-27.
[43] Tract. in Io ., 76, ch. 2, col. 1831; cf. Catena Aurea , 14:22-27.
[44] In Ioannem hom ., 75, ch. 3; PG 59, col. 406; cf. Catena Aurea , 14:22-27.
[45] Homiliae in Evangelista XXX , ch. 2; PL 76, col. 1221B; cf. Catena Aurea, 14:22-27.
[46] Tract. in Io ., 76, ch. 5, col. 1832; cf. Catena Aurea , 14:22-27.
[47] Summa-this whole section of the chapter on the nature of the Holy Spirit and his relationship to the Father and the Son.
[48] Homiliae in Evangelista XXX , ch. 3; PL 76, col 1222B; cf. Catena Aurea, 14:22-27.
[49] Sermones de Verbis Domini 97 ; PL 39, col. 1931; cf. Catena Aurea, 14:22-27.
[50] Ibid.; cf. Catena Aurea, 14:22-27.
[51] St. Thomas quotes Jn 14:28 in the Summa Theologiae: III, q. 3, a. 8, obj. 1; q. 20, a. 1. s. c.; q. 57, a. 2, obj. 3; q. 58, a. 3 obj. 3; Jn 14:31: ST I, q. 42, a. 6, obj. 2; III, q. 47, a. 2, ad 1.
[52] De Trin ., 9, ch. 54; PL 10, col. 324B; cf. Catena Aurea, 14:27-31.
[53] In Ioannem hom ., 75, ch. 4; PG 59, col. 407; cf. Catena Aurea , 14:27-31.
[54] Tract. in Io ., 79, ch. 1, col. 1838; cf. Catena Aurea , 14:27-31.
[55] Tract. in Io ., 79, ch. 2, col. 1838; cf. Catena Aurea , 14:27-31.
[56] In Ioannem hom ., 76, ch. 1; PG 59, col. 409-411; cf. Catena Aurea , 14:27-31.
15
LECTURE I
1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are [and he is] gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so [become] prove to be my disciples. [1]
1978 In this talk our Lord especially wants to comfort his disciples about two things: one was near, in the present, and this was his passion; the other was what they feared in the future, and this was the troubles which would come upon them. He had said to them about these two things: Let not your hearts be troubled, referring to the first, and neither let them be afraid (14:27), referring to the second.
So now, after comforting them over his leaving (14:1), he strengthens them for the troubles which will come upon them. First, he presents a certain picture; secondly, he moves from this to his intention (15:3). The picture he presents is of a vine and a vinedresser. First, he mentions the vine; secondly, the vinedresser; and thirdly, he approves of the vinedresser's concern for the branches of the vine.
1979 He himself is the vine. So he says, making a comparison, I am the vine ; for just like a vine, although it seems to be of small account, nevertheless surpasses all trees in the sweetness of its fruit, so Christ, although he seemed to be despised by the world because he was poor, and seemed of small account and was publicly disgraced, nevertheless produced the sweetest fruit: "His fruit was sweet to my taste" (Song 2:3). And so Christ is a vine producing a wine which interiorly intoxicates us: a wine of sorrow for sin: "You have given us to drink the wine of sorrow" [Ps 60:3]; and a wine which strengthens us, that is, which restores us: "My blood is drink indeed" (6:55). In the same way he compared himself, above, to wheat, for his flesh is truly food.
This is the vine mentioned in Genesis (40:9‑10): "There was a vine before me, and on the vine there were three branches," that is Christ, in whom there are three substances: his body, soul and divinity. This is also the vine about which Jacob says: "My son, tie your she‑ass," that is, the Church, "to the vine" [Gen 49:11].