CYCLE II: HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (1)
CYCLE II: HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: WORSHIP GOD WITH AN EVER BURNING ZEAL
BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU
HOMILY: FEAST AINT LAWRENCE, DEACON AND MARTYR
READINGS: 2CORINTHIANS 9:6b-10, PSALM 112, JOHN 12:24-26
Lawrence, today’s saint, in line with the Pauline concept of generosity as recorded in 2 Corinthians 9:6ff, sowed the seeds of charity bountifully and gave to the poor and needy cheerfully. He had tremendous love for the poor and less privileged of his day and stretched himself even to the elastic limit to cater for their needs. Indeed, the words of the Psalmist 112:5a came to pass in his life: “It goes well with the man who deals generously and lends.” He has been and will forever be remembered and extolled. He can be likened to that grain of wheat that bore much fruit for the Church and for Christ because he died to self and lived for Christ in those who needed his help (Cf. Jn. 12:24ff). Lawrence tasks us to embrace charity, selfless generosity especially towards the poor. He beckons on us to live our lives more for others than we do for ourselves. That is how Christ lived!
Lawrence loved the Church of Christ and all that concerned the Church. His commitment and fidelity earned him the amiable position of the keeper of all temporal goods (properties) of the Church, finances and the likes. These he looked after with utmost sincerity and accountability. He teaches us to be dutiful, zealous and committed to our assigned tasks; be they spiritual or temporal.
Lawrence was a fearless and courageous young Christian who believed that only God had authority over his soul hence feared not even the Emperor Valerian and the Prefect of Rome who demanded he hands over to him the treasures of the Church. Instead of handing over the temporal goods of the Church to them, he gave them to those who lacked food, drink and shelter. To the Prefect of Rome, he presented the blind, lame, maimed, lepers, widows, orphaned and numerous poor as the treasures of the Church. Of course, he was gruesomely murdered (roasted to death). At his dying moment he said to the executioners: “It is well done; turn it over and eat it!” What a man of God, never afraid to die for his faith. He fought the good fight and ran the race to the finish. Christ in turn must have said to him: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small things, I will entrust you with greater. Come! Enter into the joy of your master!” (Mat. 25:21).
May Lawrence intercede for us even as we strive to worship God through thick and thin. Amen.
BE LIKE LAWRENCE, LOVE AND CATER FOR THE POOR
