Rewards For Remaining

Si manseritis in me... Supra ostendit, se esse fructus originem per oppositum mansionis; hic nunc ostendit per ipsam mansionm, quae fructum dat et respectu mi et respectu proximi. Respectu sui: Si manseritis in me, et verba mea in vobis manserint; non sicut illi, de quibus Lucae octavo: Ad tempus credunt et in tempore tentationis recedunt; sed sicut illi, de quibus in Psalmo: Qui servant testamentum eius et memores sunt mandatorum ipsius ad faciendum ea. Quodcumque volueritis, petetis, et fiet vobis. Supra nono: Si quis voluntatem Dei facit , hunc exaudi. Non solum est fructus respectu sui, sed etiam proximi convertendi ad Dei gloriam; ideo subdit: In hoc clarificatus est Pater meus, ut fructum plurimum afferatis... Ut scilicet homines convertantur vestro verbo et exemplo ; Matthaei quinto: Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus, ut videant opera vestra bona et glorificent Patrem vestrum, qui in caelis est; et ex hoc, Efficiamini mei discipuli, Id est imitatores mei, qui plurimum fructam attuli per meam mortem, sicut supra duodecimo: Si granum frumenti mortuum fuerit , multum fructum affert. Sic etiam Apostoli; unde Ecclesia cantat de eis, quod plantaverunt Ecelesiam sanguine suo; ad Colossenses primo: Adimpleo ea quae desunt passionum Christi. Sanctus Bonaventura, Commentarius In Evangelium Ioannem, Caput XV Source: Here, p447-8

'If he remains in me...' 1 Having just shown what the reward will be for those who are opposed to remaining with Him, He now shows what it will be for those who do remain, which reward is given with regards to the one who remains and with regards to his neighbour. As regards the one who does remain: 'If you remain in me, my words shall remain in you.' Not as those who in the eighth chapter of Luke: 'Believe for a time and in the time of trial fall away,' but as those who, as it says in the Psalm, 'Keep His testament and are mindful in the doing of His commandments.' 2 'And whatever you wish, ask, and it shall be yours.' In the ninth chapter of this Gospel: 'If someone does the will of God, he will be heard.' 3 And there is not only reward for the one who remains, but even in the turning of his neighbour to the glory of God. Therefore He adds: 'In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit...' That is, you convert men by your word and example. In the fifth chapter of Matthew: 'So let your light shine before men, that they might see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.' 4 And because of this, 'You are made my disciples,' That is, imitators of me, as in the twelfth chapter of this Gospel, 'If a grain of wheat dies, it bears much fruit.' 5 So even the Apostles, whence the Church sings concerning them, 'They have nurtured the Church with their blood.' And in the first chapter of the letter to the Colossians: 'I complete those things lacking in the passion of Christ.' 6 Saint Bonaventura, Commentary On The Gospel Of Saint John, Chapter 15 1 Jn 15.7 2 Lk 8.13, Ps 102.18 3 Jn 9.31 4 Mt 5.16 5 Jn 12.25 6 Colos 1.24