Saturday, August 10, 2002
Laurence, Deacon & Martyr
1st Reading: 2 Cor 9:6-10
Gospel: Jn 12:24-26
Jesus said to his discples, "Truly, I say to you, unless the grain
of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies,
it produces much fruit.
Those who love their life destroy it, and those who despise their life
in this world keep it for everlasting life.
Whoever wants to serve me, let him follow me and wherever I am, there
shall my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him."
Commentary
The document "Ecclesia in Asia" defines the mission of the Church in our continent as "service to life." The gospel of John presents Jesus' mission under the theme "that they may have life and life in abundance." We Christians are to safeguard and promote life in all its forms. Extreme poverty dehumanizes, greed creates violence, hatred kills many persons. The paradox of today's gospel is that it seems that we can be of "service to life" if we die to ourselves (Jn 12:24), and that only through humble service to others can we obtain a "place of honor" that the Father will grant to faithful servants. St. Laurence, deacon and martyr, and our own St. Lorenzo Ruiz have shown us an example of how to serve life by offering themselves wholeheartedly to Christ and his Church's mission.