Today we celebrate the feast of a great Franciscan priest and doctor of the Church: Lawrence of Brindisi in southern Italy. He lived in the time of the Protestant Revolution and did much to bolster the faith of the Church and to counter the protests that were being made.
He was a member of the Capuchin Friars; he taught theology to his fellow religious and was chosen to fulfill positions of leadership in his order. He became famous throughout Europe as an effective and forceful preacher. He wrote many works explaining the faith and died at Lisbon in 1619. He had a particularly strong devotion and dedication to the celebration of the Eucharist Presence of the Lord at Holy Mass!
Our gospel passage today about the sower and the seed has everything to do with Lawrence the preacher; and all of us, who are both preacher and hearers. The word of God MUST be fruitful or else it is wasted and ill-used. When the seed of preaching falls, it matters on the type of ground on which it falls: and this is not ordinary ground in any case.
If it falls on rocky ground which produces no roots, then it is because this ground has chosen to be rocky; if it falls among thorns, which choke it with worldly cares, desires and anxieties, it is because this ground has chosen to be thorn-laden; but if it falls on good ground, if it falls where the choice has been made to not only listen to the word, but also to "hear" what is being said, and to put it into practice: then the yield will be a hundred or sixty or thirty fold, depending on the differing abilities and spiritual progress involved for each individual person!
It was Lawrence of Brindisi's apostolic duty to be the instrument so that Jesus could continue to deliver his word – which has power, which is effective, which causes spiritual growth and change! It is my duty as a priest to do as he did! It is the duty of all of us to listen to and hear that word and to put it into practice – the very best we can, this, and every day.
In the first reading today we read that it is not ourselves that we preach: but Jesus Christ as Lord and that as such our words are as light in the darkness, which bring knowledge of the glory of God for those who behold the face of Christ. We hold this treasure in earth vessels – in our weak, fragile human beings - that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us!
God can use any and all of us today to be his messengers of light and glory – to bear fruit abundantly – if we cooperate with him fully – and are strengthened by the Eucharist Meal we are about to share!
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever.
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