God's Generosity
Aug 9: Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr
Today is the feast of St. Lawrence, a famously generous saint. He was a deacon whose was to personally care for the city’s poor.
This was third century Rome, when Emperor Valerian decided to persecute Christians, as Roman emperors did on occasion. He ordered the execution of many clergy, including Pope Sixtus II.
Thinking fast, St. Lawrence sold all of the Church’s goods under his purview and gave the money to the poor. When the prefect of Rome heard about the Church liquidating assets, he demanded that Lawrence turn over the Church’s treasure.
Three days later Lawrence brought him the Church’s treasure—the destitute, the orphans, the blind, and the lame.
For this, Lawrence was roasted on a gridiron.
Reading 1
2 Cor 9:6-10
Brothers and sisters: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
God doesn’t want us to just give, but give cheerfully, freely. Why?
Because God wants us to be like Him. He gave us everything, our very existence, and He didn’t need to. He wanted to, because He loves us. We should reflect that love when giving to others.
What’s different between us and God is, what goes around, comes around. When you give generously, regardless if that person ever pays you back or not, you’ve put more positivity and Godliness into the world. It will improve things down the line, even if those improvements are invisible to us in this life.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
till he looks down upon his foes.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Lavishly he gives to the poor,
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
God has blessed us in many ways, no batter who we are. When we are in a position to do so, we should pass those blessings on to others in need. It’s good for us as well as them. God will remember our generosity in the end.
Alleluia
Jn 8:12bc
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness
but will have the light of life, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One of the reasons1 God became man was to be a model for us. He lights the way for us to follow him..
Gospel
Jn 12:24-26
Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me."
Speaking of generosity, what more generous gift can we offer than our entire life?
And God will match our generosity, returning our life in heaven for the one we gave up on Earth.