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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Basil of Caesarea
Because the head of the brutes is bent down towards the ground and looks upon the earth, but the head of man was made erect towards the heaven, his eyes tending upward. For it becomes us to seek what is above, and with our sight to pierce beyond earthly things.
Cyril of Alexandria
Now that the Incarnation of the Word was manifested to destroy corruption and death, and the hatred of the devil against us, is plain from the actual events; for it follows, And behold there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity, &c. He says spirit of infirmity, because the woman suffered from the cruelty of the devil, forsaken by God because of her own crimes or for the transgression of Adam, on account of which the bodies of men incur infirmity and death. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
This illness befell the aforementioned woman through the violence of the devil, as the Lord Himself says: "whom Satan has bound for eighteen years" (Luke 13:16). Perhaps Satan tormented her because she had been forsaken by God for some transgressions, for he, when permitted from above by God, inflicts all manner of afflictions upon the bodies of people (Job 2:6–7). …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
That which the three years signified in the tree, the eighteen did in the woman, for three times six is eighteen. But she was crooked and could not look up, for in vain she heard the words, lift up your hearts.
Ambrose of Milan
The members of the church are similar to this vine. They are planted with the root of faith and held in check by the shoots of humility.… He placed in the church a tower of apostles, prophets and doctors who are ready to defend the peace of the church. He dug around it when he had freed it from the burden of earthly anxieties. Nothing burdens the mind more than concern for the world and lust for either wealth or power.An example of this is in the Gospel. …
Gregory the Dialogist
For every sinner who thinketh earthly things, not seeking those that are in heaven, is unable to look up. For while pursuing his baser desires, he declines from the uprightness of his state; or his heart is bent crooked, and he ever looks upon that which he unceasingly thinks about. The Lord called her and made her upright, for He enlightened her and succoured her. He sometimes calls but does not make upright, for when we are enlightened by grace, we ofttimes see what should be done, but because of sin do not practise it. …
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