MONDAY, NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Feast of St Lawrence, Deacon
2 Cor 9: 6-10 Ps 112: 1-2, 5-9 Jn 12: 24-26
FIRE OF CHRIST BURNING IN US!
The readings of the day use the beautiful imagery from nature to explain Christian life. In the first reading, we hear that “the one who sows generously will also reap generously.” This scriptural verse seems to have taken flesh and come alive in the life of St. Lawrence, whose feast the Church celebrates today. St Lawrence gave himself generously to God and loved Christ in the poor. At last, he offered his own life for Christ courageously by standing for truth and justice, even in opposition to the Kings command.
In the Gospel, we hear this beautiful saying of Jesus that a grain of wheat must fall into the earth and die to bear much fruit. This image helps us to understand the lives of the martyrs. These saints stood for the truth, endured suffering and gave their lives for Christ. Their courage and patience bore abundant fruit in the church and inspired many hearts to follow Christ with greater faith and conviction. In this same manner, St. Lawrence too, remained faithful to Christ even amid terrible suffering. He trusted completely in God’s promise that “whoever serves me, the Father will honour.” Truly, his reward was the crown of martyrdom and eternal life with God.
The tradition tells us that when he was tortured on a burning gridiron, he showed remarkable courage and faith. Even in the flames, his love for Christ was stronger than the pain he endured. The fire of God’s love burning in his heart was greater than the flames that surrounded his body. So let us ask God to plant in us the same faith and love that St. Lawrence preached and lived courageously in his life. Like the grain of wheat, may we die to selfishness, serve God generously and produce abundant fruit through our word and actions. May our lives bring others closer to Christ and yield a harvest a hundredfold for the glory of God. Amen.
Response: Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
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