Today we are honoring St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr. The word deacon comes from the Greek word diakonos, which means servant. After Saints Peter and Paul, Lawrence is the most honored saint in Rome. The reason why Lawrence remains so honored over more than 1500 years after his death is because Lawrence personifies in his life and death the lessons found in today’s scripture readings.
Lawrence was called from Spain to serve the Bishop of Rome as a deacon in the early Church. During a wave of persecutions, the Pope and all his clergy were executed. Deacon Lawrence was captured by the Roman governor but released on the condition that he return within three days and turn over the entire Church treasury to him. Lawrence returned at the appointed time, not with the material wealth of the church that was expected but with a multitude of the poor.
Pointing to the poor, Lawrence said: “These are the treasures of the Church.” He went on to explain that he had used the Church’s entire wealth to care for the needs of the poor. The Roman governor was enraged and ordered Lawrence to be bound to a red hot grill and roasted to death. The story holds that Lawrence cheer fully joked with his tormentors saying: “I am quite well done on this side. Now you can turn me over.” With his dying words, Lawrence personified Paul’s words from our first reading: “God loves a cheerful giver.”
A lesson for us from today’s readings and from the example of St. Lawrence is that we are to offer preferential treatment to the poor and be generous, for the Lord has blessed us. We are called to share our blessings with others that we may become more like Jesus. Jesus calls each one of us to serve one another. When we serve others, we are serving God as well.
