Year A
Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
2 Corinthians 9: 6b-10
Psalm 112: 1b-2.5-6.7-8.9 (R. 5a)
John 12: 24-26
Where I am, there shall also my servant be
If there is anything that our souls seek, it is to be united intimately with God. That indeed is the desire of our souls.
Today we are celebrating the feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr. As a deacon, he was full of love for the poor, and was so courageous; even during his martyrdom he asked his torturers to turn him over since he was done enough on that side, as he was being roasted.
The only way our souls can have their desires satisfied is to give our lives to God, so that God will become our veritable life to live. When God becomes our truthful life to live, it is not only because he has given us his own mission to do, but also he has united himself with us, so that "where he is, there shall also his servant be"
The reverse of this statement is also true: where his servant is, there also God is. Thus where God's servant is God's will is been done, and where God's will is been done is where his Kingdom is, and the Kingdom of God is Heaven, and God is in Heaven because he is everywhere.
In today's readings, we are given the overriding condition to become God's servants, and this can be summed up in one innocent word, which is "Detachment". From the agricultural language of the first reading, the concern of sowing bountifully to reap bountifully raises the question of what actually are we sowing? What we will be harvesting is given to us; "... increase the harvest of your righteousness"
What we are sowing then will be ultimately Holiness, given to us by God. Because if we look at the phrase that preceded the statement, we are reminded that God, by sending his Son, who took flesh and became like us, has conferred his Kingdom on us, and the mark of this is Holiness. But the reason Detachment is in the picture is to satisfy the desire of your soul, one must give himself or herself wholeheartedly to God, and this involves delighting in commandments of loving him first and your neighbours.
I think the last verses of the responsorial Psalm sum this up beautifully;
"Open-handed, he gives to the poor; his justice stands firm forever. His might shall be exalted in glory."
The imagery of the Cross here really reveals what Detachment entails. " On the Cross, Jesus Christ with open hands, crucified our sins, which sprung from the desires of the flesh [1 John 2:16 (bodily desires, desires of the eyes and pride of possession)], and gave life to us poor humans who were doomed to death because of the desires of the flesh mentioned in 1 John 2:16. Because of this Jesus Christ's justice stands forever as he has been glorified by the Father.
We are invited to detach from the desires of the flesh and this involves great sufferings and sacrifices. But at the end you will be glorified, so that as a grain of wheat which has fallen into the earth and dies later germinates, grows and bears fruit, you will bear abundantly the fruits of righteousness. *" God will satisfy your hunger for Holiness, good measure, flowing over." Stay Strong.
By Sylvester Amakye-Quayson
Edited by
Michael Owusu Amponsah
Comments
Post a Comment