Martyrdom of St. Lawrence
Feast of St. Lawrence
Tomato seeds had to be dried before they were planted. They seem dead. But try to plant fresh tomato seeds. After a few days they may remain untouched and fresh. But a few days later, you can see ants come and eat all the fresh tomato seeds.
The more we keep seed fresh, the more we hinder the harvest. The more we preserve them, the more tomatoes we lose. Unless the seed falls to the earth and dies, it remains a seed; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. We are like tomato seeds. We need to endure trials for us to grow. We need to risk so as to gain. We must die in order to live. St. Francis says that it is “in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Yet no one wants to die. But as we remember St. Lawrence today, let us learn from his love for the poor. When arrested and tortured by the Roman Prefect to surrender the treasures of the Church, St. Lawrence pointed to the poor, saying, “Here are the treasures of the Church.” Let us also be inspired by his faithfulness. He was martyred for his faith through roasting. But most of all, let us follow his example of joyful sacrifice. While being roasted on a gridiron, St. Lawrence even jested saying, “Kindly turn me over. I am already cooked on this side.”
May we live out our love for the poor. May our love for Jesus be faithful. May our sacrifice love be joyful at all times. By doing so we are martyrs not by dying but by living. For martyrdom is not only about dying. Martyrdom is about living for Jesus, loving Jesus in the poor, and loving Jesus in good times and bad. Dying for Jesus is but a part of that living. Unless we live like Jesus, we cannot die for Him.
Martyrdom is not only the moment when the axe falls on a Christian’s neck. It is not only the moment when wild beasts feast on a Christian’s flesh. It is not only when a Christian is roasted alive. Martyrdom is living like Jesus.
