Thin sowing means thin reaping. Reflection on Feast of St Lawrence

St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr († 258)  Feast10 August 2013

2 Cor. 9:6-10. 

Brothers and sisters, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, 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.
As it is written: "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
 

Ps 112:1-2.5-6.7-8.9. 

Blessed the man who fears the LORD,

Who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
The upright generation shall be blessed.
 
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
Who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
The just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
 
An evil report he shall not fear;
His heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
Till he looks down upon his foes.
 
Lavishly he gives to the poor,
His generosity shall endure forever;
His horn shall be exalted in glory.
 
John 12:24-26. 

Jesus said to his disciples: “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.

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 honour whoever serves me."

 

 Commentary of the day :

 Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church

 Sermon 302, for the Feast of Saint Lawrence

 

Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure for ever (Psalm 112:9)

Saint Lawrence was a deacon in Rome. The Church's persecutors ordered him to hand over the treasures of the Church. It was to win a real treasure in heaven that he underwent the torments we cannot listen to without horror: for he was stretched out on a gridiron over a fire... Nevertheless, he triumphed over all his bodily sufferings by means of the extraordinary strength he drew from his charity and in the help of Him who made him resolute. “For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them” (Eph 2,10).Now this is what stirred up his persecutors' wrath... Lawrence said: “Order wagons to come along with me on which I can bring you the treasures of the Church.” He was given some wagons, he filled them up with the poor and brought them back, saying: “These are the Church's treasures.”Nothing is truer, my brethren. The great wealth of Christians is found in the needs of the poor provided we grasp how to put our possessions to good use. The poor are always before us; if we entrust our wealth to them, we shall not lose it.