Homily – August 10, 2010

+ Today we celebrate the feast of one of the most famous martyrs of the Roman Church: St. Lawrence. On August 6 of 258 Pope Saint Sixtus II and six deacons were beheaded in Rome, leaving Lawrence, also a deacon as the ranking Church official in Rome. While in prison awaiting execution Sixtus appeared to him and reassured Lawrence that he was not being left behind, they would be reunited in four days. This gave him an opportunity to disperse the material wealth of the church before the Roman authorities could lay their hands on it (while hiding valuable church documents). On August 10, Lawrence was commanded to appear for his execution, and to bring along the treasure with which he had been entrusted by the pope. When he arrived, the archdeacon was accompanied by a multitude of Rome's crippled, blind, sick and indigent. He announced that these were the true treasures of the Church. Later, as legend has it, Lawrence was killed on the gridiron – where he is said to have told his executioners to turn him over because he was done on the one side. There is another tradition, however, that Lawrence was beheaded in the fashion of the other deacons and the pope on August 10. In any event, Lawrence became an outstanding example of martyrdom: the living expression of today's gospel passage: the grain of wheat that must die in order to produce much fruit, one who loses his life in order to find it, one who hates his life in this world to preserve it for eternal life. He certainly was honored by the Father in heaven; but also by the Church on earth. Five basilicas were dedicated to his memory in the city of Rome alone.

Our first reading tells us that when we have to do something great for him, God multiplies the graces we need – he strengthens us beyond what we can even possibly imagine – so we can do his will. He wants us to be cheerful in our obedience – and joyful in our share of the crosses of life. Then we can be assured of the richness of his eternal blessings as the just reward for our labors on his behalf!