Monday, August 10, 2020     Feast of Saint Lawrence       (today’s lectionary)
Patron of cooks and firemen
Saint Lawrence was wired to the hot grill above the coals. As he was rolled slowly across the fire he told Valerian, or perhaps it was the emperor’s servant, “I am well done. Turn me over!”
So … the Catholic committee deciding on the patronage of saints has a sense of humor.
And Saint Lawrence, who undoubtedly knew by heart the words of Paul to the Corinthians, did not judge the situation he was in to be God’s neglect, withholding, or recklessness.
Each must sow their seed as already determined
Without sadness or compulsion
For God loves a cheerful giver.
Of course that last line is the one we all know. But Lawrence knew the context might be cruel or threatening.
God is able to make every grace abundant for you.
Valerian knew his Bible too, apparently. He told Deacon Lawrence he must present the gold and silver of the church to the Roman government, because it needed money to keep up its armies. Valerian quoted Jesus words. “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.”
“No problem,” Lawrence told the king. “Give me three days.”
He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor, his righteousness endures forever.
The good deacon gathered up his lepers and his lame, the homeless and the hysterical, the poor people in the street – all of these gifts from God. He lined them up in the church’s aisle and invited in the king. Here you are, my king. These are the ones God loves the most, the gold and silver not just of the Church but of heaven. God is blessing them right here, right now. They are yours.
Valerian had been hoodwinked. And in this moment his sense of humor failed him. Thus the hot coals. Thus the patron saint of firemen and chefs. Bad things happen to good people. But God is always near.
An evil report he shall not fear,
His heart is steadfast and he trusts in the Lord.
Pestilences and epidemics plagued Rome during the days of Valerian. From Christian History Magazine, “Public officials did nothing to prevent the spread of the disease, treat the sick or even bury the dead. Romans believed nothing could be done in a time of plague other than appeasing the gods” (p. 14).
Of course Christians did not appease “the gods.” They did not offer sacrifices to “the gods.” So they were persona non grata and as such were sometimes blamed and then killed in the midst of plague. Red martyrdom, that’s called.
Bad things happen to bad people too, by the way. Valerian, captured by enemies, probably died when he was forced to drink molten gold. His skin was stuffed with straw, and the greedy king spent years as a trophy in the corner of a Persian museum.
But neither Paul nor Deacon Lawrence nor Jesus dwell on the revenge. The way forward is never to look back and resent. Unforgiveness is dangerous … “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.”
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness.
Jesus usually spoke to the big picture. Try to see past your own nose. Life is marked by death, in human society as in every other part of nature.
Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies
It remains just a grain of wheat,
But when it dies it produces much fruit.
This is a simple tale, and for me its value deepens as I watch my friends, those grains of wheat who are living out their lives, fly away. Of course my time too will come.
Whoever loves his life loses it.
Be reckless in your love and you will keep your life forever.
           (2 Corinthians 9, Psalm 112, John 8, John 12)
#
