Tractates on the Gospel of John
TRACTATE 6
On John 1.^2—^^ ^
Y HOLY PEOPLE, I had feared, I admit it to you, that this cold [weather] might cool your enthusiasm for coming together; but, because you show by the great number and crowd of you that you are on fire in the spirit, I have no doubt that you have also prayed for me that I may pay what is owed to you.
(2) For I had promised in the name of Christ, since then the shortness of time prevented me from being able to give an interpretation and explanation of it, to discuss today why God wanted to show the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. That this may be explained, this day has dawned for us. And I see that, because of a desire for listening and a holy devoutness, you have come together in unusual numbers.' May God, through our mouth, fulfill your expectation. For you have loved [so much] that you came. But what [is it] you have loved? If us, this, too, is good; for we want to be loved by you, but we do not want to be loved in ourself. Therefore, because we love you in Christ, love us in return in Christ; and let our love for one another [voice its] moaning to God, for moaning is itself characteristic of the dove.
2. If, then, moaning is characteristic of a dove, as we all know, but doves moan in love, hear what the Apostle says, and do not wonder that the Holy Spirit wished to be shown in the form of a dove. He says, "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with unspeakable moanings."^ Well now, my brothers, are we
1 . For the translation of celebrius, "in unusual numbers," see Browne, 80. This seems best to convey the thought here.
2. Cf. Rom 8.26.