Word to the Wise
Wednesday, August 10, 2016 - Aug. 10 - St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr
[2 Cor 9:6-10 and John 12:24-26]WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016 ST. LAWRENCE, Deacon and Martyr [2 Corinthians 9:6-10 and John 12:24-26] "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." [John] The rhythm of prophets and the Gospel of Matthew is interrupted by the celebration of the feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon and martyr. This is a special day for the many Permanent Deacons in our country. In fact, the church in the USA has more than half of the world's permanent deacons. One of my major ministries is to preach retreats for these deacons and their spouses. I am very much aware of the generosity they show in taking on this ministry. The formation takes about five years and requires the participation of their spouses as well. St. Lawrence's feast is a very old one in the church and so it has its own scriptures which celebrate the kind of generosity that martyrdom involves, but not only martyrdom. One of the early church fathers, however, said: "The blood of martyrs is the seedbed of the church." Martyrdom, then, becomes an ultimate sacrifice. We cannot all do this, or else there would be no church! The generosity of Permanent Deacons and their spouses offers us another kind of generosity that bears much fruit. If you know one, wish him and his spouse a happy feast day today! AMEN
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