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| “St. Peter Consecrates St. Lawrence as Deacon” by Fra Angelico, 1447-49 |
Reading 1: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10
Brothers and sisters:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.
As it is written:
He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.
The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will supply and multiply your seed
and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
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Commentary on 2 Cor 9:6-10
This reading describes Paul’s call for action from the community at Corinth
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9
R. (5) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast;
he shall not fear till he looks down upon his foes.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Lavishly he gives to the poor,
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
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Commentary on Ps 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9
Psalm 112, is a wisdom psalm which rejoices over actions in accordance with the Law. These strophes single out acts of generosity, pointing to God’s call to share good fortune with the poor in acts of charity.
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Gospel: John 12:24-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me."
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Commentary on Jn 12:24-26
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Reflection:
While St. Stephen may have been the first Deacon of the Church (and first martyr), St. Lawrence, whose Feast we celebrate today, epitomizes that role in ministry both ancient and modern. Tradition holds that St. Lawrence was a Deacon at the time when Sixtus II was Pontiff. During the persecution of Emperor Valerian, in a valiant attempt to continue the support of the poor, Pope Sixtus handed over the wealth of the Church of Rome to his Archdeacon, Lawrence, as he was taken to his own martyr’s death.
According to St. Ambrose as Sextus II was being lead away to his own martyrdom, St. Lawrence cried out to him “Father, where are you going without your son? O holy priest, where are you going in such a hurry without your deacon?” (a model of the vow of obedience taken by deacons to their bishops {and their successors}. Three days later when St. Lawrence was arrested and the prosecutor demanded that he had over the Church’s treasure. “He promised to do so. The following day he returned with some poor people. He was asked where the treasures were that he had to bring. He showed the poor people, saying: ‘These are the Church's treasures. What greater treasures could Christ have than those of whom he said: 'Whatever you have done to one of these little ones, you have done to me' (Matthew 25:40)?’ [5]
In the face of this threat, St. Lawrence openly continued his acts of charity in the name of Christ and his Church until his own arrest and ultimate torture and martyrdom. Tradition also holds that, while he was being roasted to death, he said to his torturers, “Turn me over, I’m done on that side.” We must admire his sense of humor and the effect this must have had on those who participated in the act. By his actions, St. Lawrence not only gained for himself a prominent place among the Saints, but he also provides for us the arch-example of following Christ’s instruction and example.
Today we are challenged once more to share what we have been given, be that material wealth or spiritual abundance. For the Deacons of the Church (myself included) this message needs to bring a sense of renewal to the ministry in which we were called to receive the Gospel of Christ, to teach what we were given, and to practice what we teach.
Pax
[1] The picture is “St. Peter Consecrates St. Lawrence
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[4] See NAB footnote on 2 Corinthians 9:6ff
[5] Saint Ambrose (c.340-397), Bishop of Milan
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