＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

2Corinthians 9:6-10

 Remember: the one

Who sows meagerly will reap meagerly, and there shall be generous harvests for the one who sows generously. Each of you should give as you decided personally, and not reluctantly as if obliged. God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to fill you with every good thing, so that you have enough of every­thing at all times, and may give abundantly for any good work.

 

Scripture says: He distributed, he gave to the poor, his good works last forever. God who provides the sower with seed will also provide him with the bread he eats. He will multiply the seed for you and also increase the interests of your good works.

 

Ps 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9

Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊      

John 12:24-26

 Truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

 Those who love their life destroy it, and those who despise their life in this world keep it for everlasting life.

Whoever wants to serve me, let him follow me and wherever I am, there shall my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

 

 Gospel Reflection：

Soliloquy of a Seed

The theme of kenosis continues in Jesus’ discourse today. A contemplative nun, whom I had requested to adopt me for prayer, gifted me a little greeting card for my perpetual profession.

It carried a poem with the above title. With no name of the author mentioned, I am unsure if it was her own poem or someone else’s I still treasure the card, with its little poem, in my Bible. It suits the theme of today.

Something tells me

To surrender

All I am

And hope to be

And to descend

The dark of earth                         

To be transformed

Into a tree;

But to go up                                                     

Dare I go down

And think a tree                               

Can fit in me?

                                                                                                                                                            

                                 Saint Lawrence loved Christ in his life, he imitated Him in his death....

                                 After all, shall not be able to give a better proof of love, than by imitating His example...

                     ~~~ (FORM A SERMON DELIVERED BY ST. AUGUSTINE ON THE FEAST OF ST. LAWRENCE) ~~~