for August 10
Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

I remember many years ago driving across America with an old friend. We always wanted to take this road trip and we enjoyed the adventure and the many sights along the way. Driving through the farmland of the mid-west states I was struck by the beauty and abundance of the wheat and corn fields that seemed to go on forever. I could not help but think of the beauty and lavishness of creation. This farmland is very important to the country and to the world as a source of food. It was striking to see it up close and to get a sense of the vastness and richness of this agricultural land. I could not help but think about how I deal with God’s gifts—am I a good steward? Can I at times take for granted what God has and continues to give to me? Am I as generous as I should be with others? Our relation to material life is always a worthy place for reflection and examination for Christian believers.

St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians is rich in references to the abundant harvest, sowing seeds, and food. The background of this passage is Paul’s concerns for “the collection” (yes, the early church had to think about finances) specifically for the Church of Jerusalem. Paul is concerned that the Church in Corinth help the poor in the Jerusalem community. He proposes here that persons give according to their means. Paul also wants to see to it that support of the churches with less material means bring about unity—especially between Gentile and Jewish Christian communities.

Money and wealth are always sensitive issues—in families, organizations, communities, and for individuals. In spiritual terms Paul encourages the Corinthians to recognize that their generosity to others connects them to the poor Christ. Paul also points to the ethical duties to care for poor members of the community. That is, followers of Christ always have obligations to the weakest and most vulnerable members of society. In this passage Paul is clearly treading gently and trying to encourage care and generosity between the churches. This effort of Paul can be a source of inspiration for us now. Fundamentally, a central question remains for Jesus’ followers: how do we care for others by sharing part of what God has freely given to us?

The Gospel of John today also shows God’s abundant gifts in and through the self-giving of Jesus in carrying out his mission. This gospel passage is from the part of the story where Jesus is about to begin his journey to Jerusalem. That is, “the hour has come” meaning that Jesus is soon to approach his suffering, death, and resurrection. The theme of “the hour” is important throughout John’s gospel and in some ways frames the movement of the entire narrative. Jesus is telling his followers that they too will face the cross in their own lives as part of being with him. Jesus himself takes up his cross as his “hour” has arrived and his followers will also walk in the way of the cross in their lives. The language here about “a grain of wheat” that falls to the earth and dies seems to be a clear reference to the harvest of boundless fruit which is the resurrection to new life that is promised.

It seems most appropriate for this passage from John to appear today on the Feast of St. Lawrence (d. 258). Lawrence was a deacon and martyr of the early church of Rome. A focus of his work was to distribute alms to the poor—he is reported to have lived out what St. Paul urges the Corinthians and us to do as authentic followers of Jesus. While we do not have extensive historical information about his life, Christian tradition tells us that Lawrence was one of the most popular saints of the early church.
—Francis T. Hannafey, SJ

Today’s readings can be found at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops website.