(3rd century). A Roman deacon, he died four days after Pope Sixtus II, during the persecution of Valerian. Arrested by the prefect and called on to deliver up the property of the Church, his answer was to point to a crowd of poor people. "Here are the true treasures of the Church", he said. He was roasted to death on a gridiron.
"He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Today, we join the Holy Mother Church to celebrate the feast of St. Lawrence a deacon who was martyred under the reign of Emperor Valerian on account of describing the poor masses as the treasure of the Church having given out cheerfully for their upkeep against the will of the Emperor.
On account of this Celebration today's Table of the Word presents before us the impactul teaching of our Lord in the gospel reading where He presented Himself as the grain sown for eternal harvest. What a cheerful giving! In turn He called on us to do same by not holding on to anything here in the ephemeral existence if we desire to follow Him. (cf. John 12:24-26)
St. Paul on the other way round gives us the summary of this teaching thus:
"He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Dearest friends in Christ, the fundamental question is: How do you give? Sparingly, generously or cheerfully? Having heard the word of God harden not your hard. Peace be with you!
Let us pray
O God, giver of that ardour of love for you by which Saint Lawrence was outstandingly faithful in service and glorious in martyrdom, grant that we may love what he loved and put into practice what he taught. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 10082023
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