[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10

St. Lawrence

God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that … you may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Openly following Jesus in third-century Rome was a risky business. Emperor Valerian II was killing believers right and left. Nonetheless, Lawrence, a deacon and trusted friend of Pope Sixtus II, continued his pastoral work with little concern for his safety.

Still, the time came when the pre­fect of Rome ordered Lawrence to collect all the church’s treasures and hand them over. But instead of gath­ering the church’s wealth together, Lawrence distributed it to the sick and needy. When the day came, he then presented these poor people to the prefect, saying: “Here is the trea­sure of the church.”

This bold move sealed Lawrence’s death sentence, but it didn’t take away his joy. The story goes that even as Lawrence was being burned alive on a gridiron, he said: “Turn me over, I’m done on this side.” So just how did Lawrence face his death with so much courage and even good humor?

Today’s first reading gives us a clue: God made his grace “abundant” for Lawrence, and that grace enabled him to give of him­self in such a heroic way. Probably long before this persecution began, Lawrence had begun to rely on this grace and let it shape his charac­ter. How else could he have the strength to stand up to the prefect so peacefully?

Most of us aren’t living with daily, violent persecution, but we do face challenging situations every day. We can dedicate our day to serving or spend it expecting to be served. We can choose to for­give or to lash out. We can turn to Jesus or try to make a go of it with our own resources. Whatever it is, it all starts with receiving the Lord’s grace in our hearts. If we can get in that habit with the small things of life, we will be so much better pre­pared when the big challenges come our way!

“Jesus, I know that you gave up everything so that I could live. Help me to receive your grace today so that I can give myself to you and the people around me.”

Psalm 112:1-2, 5-9; John 12:24-26

[Salvation]

A Christian Pilgrim

IF THE NEW LIFE OF CHRISTIANITY IS TO BEAR FRUIT, THE OLD LIFE MUST DIE

(A biblical refection on THE FEAST OF SAINT LAWRENCE – Friday, August 10, 2012) 

Gospel Reading: John 12:24-26 

First Reading: 2Cor 9:6-10; Psalms: Ps 112:1-2,5-9 

The Scripture Text

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant be also; if any one serves Me, the Father will honor him. (Jn 12:24-26 RSV) 

Today, August 10, the Church commemorates Saint Lawrence, a deacon in Rome who was martyred in 258 A.D. during the persecution under Emperor Valerian. Saint Augustine, in a sermon given on this day, referred to Lawrence’s death as a victory and a triumph: “He trod underfoot a stupefied world and rejected its flattery, thus overcoming the devil, his real persecutor.” Lawrence’s death was a victory because before his martyrdom he experienced the death that Jesus talked about: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (Jn 12:24).

Before any of us can die the death of a true martyr, we must first experience death to self in this life. God wants us to put aside our preoccupations with the world and our preconceptions about Him so that His truth can fill us. He wants us to surrender our hopes and dreams for this world so that He can show us the glory of His heavenly Kingdom. If the new life of Christianity is to bear fruit, the old life must die.

Saint Augustine knew that everyone is called to this death, not just the martyrs:

The martyrs followed Christ even to shedding their blood and imitating his sufferings, but they are not the only ones. The bridge did not collapse after they had crossed it, nor did the fountain dry up when they had drunk from it. In the Lord’s garden, along with the roses of the martyrs, there are the lilies of the virgins, the ivy of the married people, and the violets of widows. Let no class of men despair of salvation, for Christ died for all. “He wishes all men to be saved and to come to know the truth.”

Saint Augustine continued:

How, then, may the Christian follow Christ apart from shedding his blood? Through humility. “Christ humbled Himself and became obedient.” How, then, can you be proud? Only after having humbled Himself unto death did Christ ascend to heaven; Him we must follow. (Sermon 304)

Short Prayer: Lord, grant us the humility to die to ourselves that we may fully live. Amen.