Daily Gospel for Monday, 10 August 2015
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."[John 6:68]
Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr - Feast
Saints of the day:
St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr († 258)
SAINT LAWRENCE
Deacon and Martyr
(†258)
Feast
St. Lawrence was the chief among the seven deacons of the Roman Church. In the year 258 Pope Sixtus was led out to die, and St. Lawrence stood by, weeping that he could not share his fate. "I was your minister," he said, "when you consecrated the blood of our Lord; why do you leave me behind now that you are about to shed your own?" The holy Pope comforted him with the words, "Do not weep, my son; in three days you will follow me."
This prophecy came true. The prefect of the city knew the rich offerings which the Christians put into the hands of the clergy, and he demanded the treasures of the Roman Church from Lawrence, their guardian. The Saint promised, at the end of three days, to show him riches exceeding all the wealth of the empire, and set about collecting the poor, the infirm, and the religious who lived by the alms of the faithful. He then bade the prefect "see the treasures of the Church". Christ, whom Lawrence had served in his poor, gave him strength in the conflict which ensued. Roasted over a slow fire, he made sport of his pains. "I am done enough," he said, "eat, if you will." At length Christ, the Father of the poor, received him into eternal habitations.
God showed by the glory which shone around St. Lawrence the value He set upon his love for the poor. Prayers innumerable were granted at his tomb; and he continued from his throne in heaven his charity to those in need, granting them, as St. Augustine says, "the smaller graces which they sought, and leading them to the desire of better gifts".Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr - Feast
Readings
Second Letter to the Corinthians 9: 6 Here’s the point: he who plants sparingly also harvests sparingly. 7 Each should give according to what he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.[2 Corinthians 9:7 Proverbs 22:8 (Septuagint)] 8 Moreover, God has the power to provide you with every gracious gift in abundance, so that always in every way you will have all you need yourselves and be able to provide abundantly for every good cause — 9 as the Tanakh says, “He gave generously to the poor; his tzedakah lasts forever.”[2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9] 10 He who provides both seed for the planter and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your tzedakah.
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."[John 6:68]
Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr - Feast
Saints of the day:
St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr († 258)
SAINT LAWRENCE
Deacon and Martyr
(†258)
Feast
St. Lawrence was the chief among the seven deacons of the Roman Church. In the year 258 Pope Sixtus was led out to die, and St. Lawrence stood by, weeping that he could not share his fate. "I was your minister," he said, "when you consecrated the blood of our Lord; why do you leave me behind now that you are about to shed your own?" The holy Pope comforted him with the words, "Do not weep, my son; in three days you will follow me."
This prophecy came true. The prefect of the city knew the rich offerings which the Christians put into the hands of the clergy, and he demanded the treasures of the Roman Church from Lawrence, their guardian. The Saint promised, at the end of three days, to show him riches exceeding all the wealth of the empire, and set about collecting the poor, the infirm, and the religious who lived by the alms of the faithful. He then bade the prefect "see the treasures of the Church". Christ, whom Lawrence had served in his poor, gave him strength in the conflict which ensued. Roasted over a slow fire, he made sport of his pains. "I am done enough," he said, "eat, if you will." At length Christ, the Father of the poor, received him into eternal habitations.
God showed by the glory which shone around St. Lawrence the value He set upon his love for the poor. Prayers innumerable were granted at his tomb; and he continued from his throne in heaven his charity to those in need, granting them, as St. Augustine says, "the smaller graces which they sought, and leading them to the desire of better gifts".Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr - Feast
Readings
Second Letter to the Corinthians 9: 6 Here’s the point: he who plants sparingly also harvests sparingly. 7 Each should give according to what he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.[2 Corinthians 9:7 Proverbs 22:8 (Septuagint)] 8 Moreover, God has the power to provide you with every gracious gift in abundance, so that always in every way you will have all you need yourselves and be able to provide abundantly for every good cause — 9 as the Tanakh says, “He gave generously to the poor; his tzedakah lasts forever.”[2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9] 10 He who provides both seed for the planter and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your tzedakah.
Psalms 112:1 Halleluyah!
Holy Gospel of Yeshua the Messiah according to Saint John 12:24 Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless a grain of wheat that falls to the ground dies, it stays just a grain; but if it dies, it produces a big harvest. 25 He who loves his life loses it, but he who hates his life in this world will keep it safe right on into eternal life! 26 If someone is serving me, let him follow me; wherever I am, my servant will be there too. My Father will honor anyone who serves me.Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr - Feast
Commentary of the day:
How happy is anyone who fears Adonai,
who greatly delights in his mitzvot.
2 His descendants will be powerful on earth,
a blessed generation of upright people.
5 Things go well with the person who is merciful and lends,
who conducts his affairs with fairness;
6 for he will never be moved.
The righteous will be remembered forever.
7 He will not be frightened by bad news;
he remains steady, trusting in Adonai.
8 His heart is set firm, he will not be afraid,
till finally he looks in triumph at his enemies.
9 He distributes freely, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness stands forever.
His power will be increased honorably.Holy Gospel of Yeshua the Messiah according to Saint John 12:24 Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless a grain of wheat that falls to the ground dies, it stays just a grain; but if it dies, it produces a big harvest. 25 He who loves his life loses it, but he who hates his life in this world will keep it safe right on into eternal life! 26 If someone is serving me, let him follow me; wherever I am, my servant will be there too. My Father will honor anyone who serves me.Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr - Feast
Commentary of the day:
Saint Augustine
“Fervor of love for you, O Lord, enabled the deacon, Saint Lawrence, to remain outstandingly faithful” (cf. Collect)
“Fervor of love for you, O Lord, enabled the deacon, Saint Lawrence, to remain outstandingly faithful” (cf. Collect)
Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
Sermon 206 (attrib.)
Sermon 206 (attrib.)
“Fervor of love for you, O Lord, enabled the deacon, Saint Lawrence, to remain outstandingly faithful” (cf. Collect)
The example of Saint Lawrence encourages us to give up our lives, set alight our faith, furbish our devotion. Not the flames of a scaffold but those of a living faith are what consume us. Our bodies are not burned for Jesus Christ’s sake but our souls are transported with the fervor of love for him…, our hearts burn with love for Jesus. Did not the Savior himself say of this sacred fire: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Lk 12,49). Cleopas and his companion experienced the effects of it when they said: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke ot us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” (Lk 24,32).
It was also thanks to this interior burning that Saint Lawrence remained insensible to the flames of his martyrdom. He burned with desire to be with Jesus and did not feel the torture. The more the fervor of his faith grew within him, the less he suffered from the tortures… The power of the divine brasier alight in his heart calmed the flames of the gridiron kindled by the torturer
____________________________It was also thanks to this interior burning that Saint Lawrence remained insensible to the flames of his martyrdom. He burned with desire to be with Jesus and did not feel the torture. The more the fervor of his faith grew within him, the less he suffered from the tortures… The power of the divine brasier alight in his heart calmed the flames of the gridiron kindled by the torturer
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