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department of the treasury
“Lavishly he gives to the poor.” —Psalm 112:9
St. Lawrence was treasurer of the Church in the third century. The Roman government arrested him and gave him three days to hand over the treasures of the Church. First, Lawrence gave all the Church’s money to the poor. Then he gathered the poor, crippled, blind, and lame and presented them to the Roman officials, saying, “Here are the treasures of the Church.” Naturally, the Romans didn’t view treasures as Lawrence did, and they responded by putting him to death as a martyr.
Often people in secular society don’t see the poor, marginalized, handicapped, or babies in the womb as treasures. It’s much like the parable of the hidden treasure in the field (Mt 13:44). The person who bought the field saw its great value and sold all to buy it. However, his peers, who couldn’t see the buried treasure, would have considered such a purchase foolhardy.
As disciples of Jesus, it is essential to see with eyes of faith rather than a worldly perspective. Many will not see as we Christians see (see 1 Cor 2:13-15). Those in the world will consider our treasures as “absurdity” (1 Cor 2:14). Jesus warned: “Do not lay up for yourselves an earthly treasure. Moths and rust corrode; thieves break in and steal. Make it your practice instead to store up heavenly treasure, which neither moths nor rust corrode nor thieves break in and steal. Remember, where your treasure is, there your heart is also” (Mt 6:19-21).
With St. Lawrence, “be intent on things above rather than on things of earth” (Col 3:2). Fix your eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2), “our only Master and Lord” (Jude 4).
Prayer: Father, enlighten our “innermost vision” that we might see as did St. Lawrence (Eph 1:18).
Promise: “He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully.” —2 Cor 9:6
Praise: St. Lawrence was martyred less than a week after his Pope, St. Sixtus II, was martyred. He bravely faced death for Jesus.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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