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| “The Charity of St Lawrence” by Bernardo Strozzi,1639-40 |
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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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 led 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 of today 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 the threat to
his life, St. Lawrence openly continued his acts of charity in the name of
Christ and his Church until his 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, whether that is 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 whose heralds we become, to teach what
we were given, and to practice what we teach.
Pax
In other years: Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
[1]
The picture is “The
Charity of St Lawrence” by Bernardo Strozzi,1639-40
[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
and Doctor of the Church, On the duties of the clergy I, 84; II, 28; PL 16,84
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