The Lord God called the Prophet Jeremiah, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you” (Jeremiah 1:5). God has a purpose for all of us. The Baltimore Catechism states that God created us to know, love, and serve Him.
Saint Paul wrote to the Corinthians, saying: “God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.” We know with confidence that God gives us the grace we need to accomplish the things that He desires of us. Saint Paul affirmed this in his letter to the Philippians: “I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me” (4:13).
And then, in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.” For us to know, love, and serve God, we must first deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and come follow him (Matthew 16:24). When we do this, not only will we be with God for all eternity but the Father will honor whoever serves our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We see this in the life and martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr. From Franciscan Media: “He was a Roman deacon under Pope Saint Sixtus II. Four days after this pope was put to death, Lawrence and four clerics suffered martyrdom, probably during the persecution of the Emperor Valerian. . . As deacon in Rome, Saint Lawrence was charged with the responsibility for the material goods of the Church, and the distribution of alms to the poor. When Lawrence knew he would be arrested like the pope, he sought out the poor, widows, and orphans of Rome and gave them all the money he had on hand, selling even the sacred vessels of the altar to increase the sum. When the prefect of Rome heard of this, he imagined that the Christians must have considerable treasure. . . [and said to Saint Lawrence:] ‘Bring these treasures—the emperor needs them to maintain his forces’. . . After three days he gathered a great number of blind, lame, maimed, leprous, orphaned, and widowed persons and put them in rows. When the prefect arrived, Lawrence simply said, ‘These are the treasure of the Church. . .’ The prefect was so angry he told Lawrence that he would indeed have his wish to die.”
“Saint Lawrence’s martyrdom is a supreme testament to love. Saint Leo the Great, in a homily, commented on the condemnation of St. Lawrence, ‘The flames could not overcome the charity of Christ; and the fire burning him without was weaker than the one he had burning within him’ (Vatican News). “St. Lawrence teaches us that we should not fear religious oppression. With great confidence and fortitude through prayer, we can overcome the challenges that stand before us. And even in the midst of persecution, we can maintain joy in Christ” (EWTN).
Once again, it is as Saint Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.” And as Jesus said in today’s Gospel: “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.”
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