Bearing Fruit Through Sacrifice

August 10, Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
Daily Readings: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; John 12:24-26

“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24). Jesus teaches that to truly live and experience the fullness of life, we must let go of our desires and ambitions.

Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Lawrence, a 3rd-century deacon martyred during the Roman persecution. When summoned by the Roman prefect to present the Church's treasures, Lawrence gathered the poor, sick, and widows, declaring, “These are the treasures of the Church.” Enraged, the prefect ordered Lawrence's brutal execution.

St. Lawrence used his suffering to share God's love, leading many to believe in Christ. His martyrdom embodies the truth that the blood of martyrs is the seed of faith, bearing much fruit.

Both the Gospel and St. Lawrence’s actions convey a powerful message: to love as Jesus loves means putting others first, dying to our desires to serve and bring life to others. It means being willing to lay down our lives, just as Jesus did on the cross.

Call to Action for Catholic Living: Are we willing to let go of our desires and ambitions to serve others? 

Reflecting on the examples of Jesus and St. Lawrence, may we be inspired to live more radically and follow Jesus more closely, allowing our lives to bear much fruit. Amen.