Although its root is alive, in winter even a living tree is like a dead one, both of them bare of fruit and leaves. Summer will come and distinguish between the trees. The living root produces leaves and is filled with fruit; the dried-up root will remain without them in summer as in winter. The living tree bears fruit for the storehouse, while the axe is laid to the dead tree and it is thrown on the fire. Our summer is the coming of Christ--our winter is when he is hidden; our summer when he is revealed. The Apostle said to good and faithful trees: You have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Dead, yes--dead in appearancebut alive at the root. See the coming summer that Paul then describes: But when Christ your life shall appear, then you too will appear with him in glory (Col 3:3-4). (Augustine, Sermon 36, 4; PL 35, 216)