Shortly after I was ordained I made a trip to Rome with two friends. We said Mass in the catacombs and visited the Basilica of today’s Saint Laurence with its grids of iron linked to the memory of his martyrdom through being roasted to death.
Rome has seen some 3000 years of civilisation starting 753 BC allegedly with King Romulus and moving through Republic and back to Kingdom with the Emperor Augustus from 27BC. The sort of civilisation is questionable, one with a cruel imposition of power. When we visit Rome today it's the civilising force of Christianity and especially early martyrs like St Laurence that most touches the spirit.
Our Lord in the Gospel announces: ‘I tell you, most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life’ (John 12:24f).
It is said that the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the Church. Laurence’s martyrdom on 10 August 258 is kept in memory up to this day on account of its fearless witness, a witness that in the end rose to the fore in the Roman Empire finally leaving the universal church as its main legacy after the Emperor Constantine became a Christian in 312.
When they arrested Laurence, knowing he was a deacon, the soldiers demanded he present them with the church treasures. Off he went and gathered the poor people Laurence cared for as a deacon. ‘Here are the church’s treasures’ he said to them, which explains the choice of first reading from 2 Corinthians 9:6f: ‘Scripture says: He was free in almsgiving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never be forgotten’.
Psalm 112 we just heard read takes up that generosity which is the life of Christ in Laurence and in us. I end by repeating part of it as an invitation from today’s Saint:
The good man takes pity and lends, he conducts his affairs with honour.
The just man will never waver: he will be remembered for ever.
He has no fear of evil news; with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.
With a steadfast heart he will not fear; he will see the downfall of his foes.
Open-handed, he gives to the poor; his justice stands firm for ever.
His head will be raised in glory. Happy the one who takes pity and lends.
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