Feast of Saint
Lawrence, deacon and martyr
(II Corinthians 9:6-10; John 12:24-26)
In Italy today’s feast of St. Lawrence may be celebrated
by looking up at the night sky. It is
the time of year when shooting stars instill a sense of awe in the observer. Stories about St. Lawrence provide hearers
with a similar awe.
Lawrence was the deacon of the Church of Rome in charge
of its treasury at the time of the persecution of the emperor Valerian. When government officials demanded that he produce
for them the church’s treasures, Lawrence led them to the city’s poor. For this act of defiance, he was sentenced to
death by burning. It is said that during
his execution he quipped to his executioners that he was well done on one side
and they might turn him to be roasted on the other.
Most everyone wants to be recognized as unique in some
way. Currently it is fashionable to have
one’s body tattooed in a singular way. That
seems like a dubious way to stand out. We
might encourage our young people to aspire to be different like St. Lawrence. Rather than being known for doing something odd,
they should want to excel in caring for others and enduring trials patiently.
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