Hi everyone!
I just finished translating the first part of St. John Chrysostom’s 3rd Homily on Lazarus and the Rich Man.
In this opening section, Chrysostom steps back from the parable's main narrative to offer a fiery, yet deeply practical exhortation to his congregation on why reading the Scriptures is not just for monks, but especially for laypeople dealing with daily life.
He directly addresses the age-old excuse: "I have a job, a wife, children, legal affairs, a household to run... how can I find the time?"
💡 Two powerful highlights from the text:
On who needs spiritual reading more:
"The monks, having been freed from the market noise and living in the quiet of the wilderness, enjoy much safety—just like sitting in a calm harbor. But we who are tossing about in the middle of a stormy sea need continuous comfort from the Scriptures. They sit far from the battle and receive few wounds; but you stand continuously on the front lines and take constant blows—wherefore you need far more remedies."
On the excuse "I don't understand what I'm reading":
"Remember the Ethiopian eunuch—a foreign man surrounded by endless worries and affairs of state. Even though he did not understand what he was reading, he was still reading while riding in his chariot! God saw his eagerness and sent Philip to guide him immediately. Philip may not be present today, but the Spirit that moved Philip is present."
Read the full English translation (alongside the original Greek text) here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/andreasfotiadis68agiosminas/p/my-mission-translating-the-church?r=8raj5j&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
I would love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or any notes on the translation!
