Homilia i in sanctum Lazarum

A reading from Hesychius, presbyter of Jerusalem, on James, the brother of the Lord, and David the Godfather. If our Saviour had not "humbled himself by becoming" "obedient unto death", servants would not have been called relatives, nor would clay have been called the father of the potter. In Zion I greet Bethlehem as if present, in the daughter I see the mother. In you one torch-bearing star was kindled, but in her many. That one led the Magi, this one torch-led Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and those from all nations by the light of its lightning. You suck milk from virginal breasts, she draws spirit from paternal bosoms. You kneaded the bread, but Zion set forth the supper. You fed the calf at the manger, but Zion led it to the altar. You hid Jesus in swaddling clothes, but she laid bare the side to Thomas when he wished to touch it. You have a virgin giving birth with the organs of nature closed, she has a bridal chamber receiving the bridegroom within closed doors and holding him. How shall I praise the servant and brother of Christ, the commander-in-chief of the new Jerusalem, the leader of the priests, the chief of the apostles, the crown among heads, the one who outshines among lamps, the one who outshines among stars? Peter speaks in assembly, but James legislates, and a few words contracted the magnitude of the question: "I judge that we should not trouble those from the nations, and so forth." "I judge": it is not lawful to reject his judgment, nor to disparage the decree; "For in me the judge of all, both dead and living, speaks.

My instrument, but the craftsman is beyond me. I provide the tongue, but the creative Word supplies the discourse. Do not attend to the reed, but to the one who writes. Let obedience succeed the hearing.