HOMILY, MONDAY 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A
ST LAWRENCE, Deacon and Martyr
“Lawrence is probably the most famous of the Roman martyrs. He was a deacon full of love for the poor, filled with courage before is torturers and a good sense of humour even while dying for his faith in 258. Tradition holds that as hew roasting to death on a gridiron, he asked his torturers to turn him over since he was “done” enough on that side. Devotion to Lawrence was widespread by the fourth century.” [Daily Missal]
2Cor 9:6b-10, John 12:24-26
Life is a game of give and take. Nothing is free. However, the size and the weight of what we give is determined by the spirit in which we give it. It becomes wasted efforts if done grudgingly. It is meritorious when done cheerfully, for “God loves a cheerful giver.” 2Cor 9:7
St Lawrence served the poor with joy and died for what he loved. His blood became part of the seed for the church. He joyfully gave up his life.
Whatever will bring out something new must pass through some processes which may alter the form. The gold in the fire seems to be suffering torture, it will come out glittering. For those who want to live, death is inevitable; death to self, death to unruly desires and death to the world. Without these, no one can truly embrace martyrdom.
In the Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls in to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24
PRAYER
O Lord! May I love you above all. Give me the courage to die to all that will separate me from your love. Thy kingdom come.
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