Welcome to my
block and peace be with you.
Today in the Catholic Church we celebrate the feast of St. Lawrence. He
was deacon in Rome towards the end of the third century and gave his life for
Christ in a persecution on this day in 285 A.D. He was famous for his love and
service of the poor
10 August 2020
Feast of St. Lawrence
Martyr
No one can outdo God in generosity
This is the
blessed Lawrence
who gave
himself up for the treasure of the Church:
for this he
earned the suffering of martyrdom
to ascend
with joy to the Lord Jesus Christ.
____________________
Prayer
O God, giver
of that ardour of love for you
by which
Saint Lawrence was outstandingly faithful in service
and glorious
in martyrdom,
grant that we
may love what he loved
and put into
practice what he taught.
Through our
Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and
reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for
ever and ever.
____________________
First reading
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 ·
God loves a cheerful giver
Do not
forget: thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap.
Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or
because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no
limit to the blessings which God can send you – he will make sure that you
will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance,
and still have something to spare for all sorts of good works. As scripture says:
He was free in almsgiving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never
be forgotten.
The one who provides seed for the sower and bread
for food will provide you with all the seed you want and make the harvest of
your good deeds a larger one. THE WORD OF THE LORD
Prayerful reflection
God has given the resources of the world to everyone and not just a
few. Each may have what they need. Over and above that, we are to share with those
in need. If all would do this, there would not be those who own far more than
they need or can even use. Likewise, it is the will of God that those who have
should support those who are not able, for one reason or another, to support
themselves.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 111(112):1-2,5-9
Happy
the man who takes pity and lends.
Happy the man
who fears the Lord,
who takes
delight in all his commands.
His sons will
be powerful on earth;
the children
of the upright are blessed.
Happy
the man who takes pity and lends.
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.
Happy
the man who takes pity and lends.
.
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.
Happy
the man who takes pity and lends.
Open-handed,
he gives to the poor;
his justice
stands firm for ever.
His head will
be raised in glory.
Happy
the man who takes pity and lends.
____________________
Jn8:12bc
Alleluia,
alleluia!
I am the
light of the world, says the Lord;
anyone who
follows me will have the light of life.
Alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
John 12:24-26
If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich
harvest
Jesus said to
his disciples:
‘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.
If a man
serves me, he must follow me,
wherever I
am, my servant will be there too.
If anyone
serves me, my Father will honour him.’
THE GOSPEL OF
THE LORD
Prayerful
reflection
No one can outdo God in generosity. He repays what little we give a
hundredfold. Those who serve God, can expect to be blessed. Those who give
their lives for the sake of their believe in God can expect God to bless them
superabundantly. Jesus alone is permanent. Everything else in this world is
temporary and passing. To attempt to save our life by acquiring and clinging to
the treasures of this world is to be swept away when that to which we cling is
swept away. Only if we cling to Jesus , even at the cost of losing everything
in this world, will we be saved for eternal life.
Jn 12: 26
Whoever
serves me must follow me
and where I
am there also will my servant be, says the Lord.
____________________
Prayer
Nourished by
these sacred gifts,
we humbly
implore you, Lord,
that the
homage of dutiful service,
which we
render on the feast of Saint Lawrence,
may bring us
an increase of your saving grace.
Through
Christ our Lord.
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