Feast of St. Lawrence, deacon & martyr
I want to sow bountifully so as to reap bountifully! Yet we can foolishly think that this is burning the candle at both ends, pouring ourselves out willy-nilly. This is why the average tenure for young youth ministers in parishes is two years. No one could sustain such a hectic schedule with energetic young people without also having routine, self-care, and setting good boundaries.
St. Lawrence had maturity and consistency, along with abundant charity and love for God. Therefore, when the time came to pour himself out, He could do so at the right time in the right way. He knew that he could chase every ambulance but in all that running around it might only be for vainglory instead of fulfilling God’s will. Lawrence rather let the seed of His ego fall into the ground to die. There it quietly was doing much growth, germinating, and already spreading roots for it one day to bear much fruit. No wonder when persecutions heated up and He witnessed the pope’s martyrdom that he knew the right time was near. He gave all the Church’s wealth to the poor, and when the Romans came to seize it and asked to see the Church’s treasure, Lawrence presented them with the poor people as his riches. The crown of martyrdom was won as the climax of his life that laid the foundation for it.
Are we generous or reckless? Some recklessness must be in love. But unless we are consistent and our glorious waste participates in Christ’s, it will be of no merit. You can jump on a grenade but you can also kick it away and probably have the same effect. We must sow abundantly, but also prudently. God grant us this spiritual maturity!
Reflection by Fr. Pachomius Meade, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections