Homily I on Saint Lazarus
Homilia I in sanctum Lazarum
Homily on Lazarus§1
1The homily was read by Hesychius, a presbyter of Jerusalem, to James, the brother of the Lord, and David the God-bearer.
If our Savior had not humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, servants would not have been related, and the clay would not have been called the potter's father.
I greet Bethlehem in Zion, as if she were present.
I see the mother in the daughter.
In you a foster-father one star has risen, and in her many.
That star guided the Magi, but she has guided the Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and all the nations to the light of the lightning.
You draw milk from virgin breasts, but this one brings down the spirit from paternal bosoms.
You leavened the bread, but Zion...
...
Greek · §1
Homilia i in sanctum Lazarum (homilia 11) Ἀνεγνώσθη Ἡσυχίου, πρεσβυτέρου Ἱεροσολύμων, εἰς Ἰάκωβον, τὸν ἀδελφὸν τοῦ κυρίου, καὶ ∆αυὶδ τὸν θεοπάτορα. 1 Εἰ μὴ «ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν γενόμενος» ὁ σωτὴρ ἡμῶν «ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου», οὐκ ἂν οἰκέται συγγενεῖς ἐχρημάτιζον, οὐκ ἂν ὁ πηλὸς πατὴρ τοῦ κεραμέως ἐλέγετο. Ἐν τῇ Σιὼν τὴν Βηθλεὲμ ὡς παροῦσαν ἀσπάζομαι, ἐν τῇ θυγατρὶ τὴν μητέρα βλέπω. Ἐν σοὶ δᾳδοῦχος ἀστὴρ εἷς ἀνήφθη, ἐν ταύτῃ δὲ πολλοί. Ἐκεῖνος τοὺς Μάγους ὡδήγησεν, αὕτη Πάρθους καὶ Μήδους καὶ Ἐλαμίτας καὶ τοὺς ἐξ ἐθνῶν πάντων τῷ φωτὶ τῆς ἀστραπῆς ἐδᾳδούχησε. Σὺ γάλα ἕλκεις ἐκ μασθῶν παρθενικῶν, αὕτη πνεῦ-μα ἐκ κόλπων κατάγει πατρικῶν. Σὺ τὸν ἄρτον ἐζύμωσας, ἀλλ' ἡ Σιὼν
Zion's Revelation of Christ§2
2You prepared a meal, but Zion brought it to the altar.
You hid Jesus in swaddling clothes, but she revealed his side to Thomas when he desired to touch it.
You have a virgin giving birth with the organs of nature having been shut up, but she received the bridegroom inside closed doors and had him.
2 How can I praise the…
Greek · §2
δεῖπνον ἀνέδειξε. Σὺ τὸν μόσχον ἐπὶ τῆς φάτνης ἔθρεψας, ἀλλ' ἡ Σιὼν εἰς τὸν βωμὸν ἀνήγαγε. Σὺ τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐν τοῖς σπαρ γάνοις ἔκρυψας, αὕτη δὲ τῷ Θωμᾷ τὴν πλευρὰν βουληθέντι ψηλαφῆσαι ἐγύμνωσε. Σὺ παρθένον ἔχεις τίκτουσαν κεκλεισμένων τῶν ὀργάνων τῆς φύσεως, αὕτη παστάδα κεκλεισμένων τῶν θυρῶν ἔνδον τὸν νυμφίον δεχομένην καὶ ἔχουσαν. 2 Πῶς ἐγκωμιάσω τὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ
Leadership and Judgment in the New Jerusalem§3
3A servant and brother, leader of the new Jerusalem, ruler of priests, chief of apostles, prominent among leaders, shining among lamps, and outshining among stars.
Peter speaks, but James legislates, and few words have settled the matter’s extent: ‘I judge that we should not trouble those from the nations’.
‘I judge’ — the one who utters these words does not reject this judgment, nor does he invalidate it.
Greek · §3
δοῦλον καὶ ἀδελφόν, τὸν τῆς νέας Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἀρχιστράτηγον, τὸν τῶν ἱερέων ἡγεμόνα, τῶν ἀποστόλων τὸν ἔξαρχον, τὸν ἐν κεφαλαῖς κορυφήν, τὸν ἐν λύχνοις ὑπερλάμποντα, τὸν ἐν ἄστροις ὑπερφαίνοντα; Πέτρος δημηγορεῖ, ἀλλ' Ἰάκωβος νομοθετεῖ, καὶ ὀλίγαι λέξεις τὸ τοῦ ζητήματος συνέστειλαν μέγεθος· «Ἐγὼ κρίνω μὴ παρενοχλεῖν τοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν, καὶ ἑξῆς». «Ἐγὼ κρίνω»· οὗ τὴν κρίσιν ἀθετεῖν οὐ
The Instrument of Judgment§4
4It is not right to despise the judgment, for the judge of all, both dead and living, speaks through me (Acts 10:42).
My instrument is mine, but the craftsman is above me.
I offer the tongue, but the creator Word supplies the speech.
Pay no attention to the reed, but to the one writing.
Let obedience follow the hearing.
Greek · §4
θέμις, οὐδὲ φαυλίζειν τὸ ψήφισμα· «Ἐν ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὁ πάντων κριτὴς καὶ νεκρῶν καὶ ζώντων φθέγγεται. Ἐμὸν τὸ ὄργανον, ἀλλ' ὁ τεχνίτης ὑπὲρ ἐμέ. Ἐγὼ τὴν γλῶσσαν παρέχω, ἀλλ' ὁ δημιουργὸς Λόγος τὸν λόγον χορηγεῖ. Μὴ τῷ καλάμῳ, τῷ δὲ γράφοντι πρόσεχε. Τὴν ἀκοὴν ὑπακοὴ διαδεχέσθω.» 1