2Corinthians 9:6b – 10/Psalm 111:1-2,5-9/John 12:24 -26

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Lawrence, he was the Pope’s archdeacon. The young cleric held a position of great trust, caring for the goods of the Church and distributing its alms among the poor. A pagan prefect of Rome had Lawrence arrested and persecuted because he was desirous of coveting the treasures of the church; while St. Lawrence gathered all lepers, the lame, the maimed, the blind, widows, Orphans etc. and invited the prefect to see them as the treasures of the church.

Seeing this as an insult threatened St. Lawrence with torture and roasted him in the gridiron to death. In the words of St. Paul “each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion…” St. Lawrence was someone who gave of himself, not grudgingly, but generously and cheerfully, to the Lord and to the church.

Dear friends this shows how our faith in God must be truly filled with true dedication and commitment and not merely an empty faith and proclamations only.

Just like St. Lawrence, who devoted himself to the cause of the Lord, that he risked his life in doing his mission and in ensuring that the properties and goods of the Church entrusted to his care did not fall into wrong hands. So, we should all strive do our part in living our lives with true dedication and faith.

Similarly in the gospel reading, Jesus addressing us as his potential followers and servants, declares that we need to die to ourselves if we are to become fully alive with the life of God. He says, a grain of wheat ought to fall to the ground and ‘die’ first so that it might bear plenty of fruits. Jesus calls on us his servants, his disciples, to follow him, to be ready to lose our lives in service of others.

This means that in our actions and deeds in life, all of us should do our best so that we may be the shining light of God’s truth and love, the light of hope for many of our fellow brothers and sisters who may be facing a lot of hardships and challenges in their lives. In this Christian journey we have to be prepared to suffer for the Lord, but then again, we must always remember that we never suffer alone, for the Lord is always at our side.

Lastly, I want to humbly ask you, what drives your life? Paul insists that it is the happy giver whom God loves. Jesus taught us that what we do to others we do for God. My dear a day will come when everyone we opened our heart and hand towards, will favour us.

Please note this, Possessions only provide temporary happiness. So, this drive to always want more based on the misconception that having more will make me more happy, more important and more secure is untrue – for we eventually become bored with them and next we are craving for newer, bigger and better versions. Real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from us, thus our relationship with God.

Giving generously and cheerfully is the way of the Lord, it is the way of the gospel. Both the first reading and the gospel reading assure us that if we follow that way, we will reap a generous harvest for ourselves and for others and that we will receive more than we give.

Mass intentions: I pray in a very special way in this Mass for my brother and friend, Ross for his generous contribution towards my ministry; May you prosper beyond your dreams and may the anointing of God be upon you and protect you. I pray for God’s healing for Theresa Aparace and Renata Spudic.