St. Lawrence: Fallen Grain of Wheat to Follow Jesus - Not on Gridiron to be Roasted but on the Ground with Blood to Reap Abundant Fruit of Love

St. Lawrence may have been popularly known to have allegedly said, “I am done on this side, turn me over” while being roasted on gridiron for his execution. However this legend of St. Lawrence does not seem to have a historically verifiable factor.  What has been known for sure about this 3^rd century Roman martyred Saint is that he was a deacon and exemplary in self-giving service to the Church, especially for the poor.  This truth of St. Lawrence is aptly reflected in the scripture readings of his feast: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; John 12:24-26.

By virtue of the Sacrament of Baptism, Christians are called to sow seeds of love willingly and cheerfully, according to the Gospel taught by Jesus bountifully in order to reap abundantly (i.e. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7).   By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Sacrament of Confirmation certainly enables us to be amenable in sowing our lives as grains of wheat fallen to yield greater harvest (John 12:24) for the reward of eternal life (John 12:25). And this is how we follow and serve the Lord (John 12:26), as exemplified by St. Lawrence.

As a deacon under St. Sixtus II’s papal pastoral leadership, St. Lawrence practiced excellent stewardship of the Church assets and committed himself in the works of mercy for the poor.  However, when Sixtus was martyred on August 6, 258, by the edict of Emperor Valerian, Lawrence was demanded to turn all the Church assets to the Roman authorities.  In response, Lawrence promptly distributed the ecclesiastical assets to the poor to avoid having them confiscated by Rome. When he was confronted for the assets to turn over to the Roman authorities, Lawrence was alleged to have said that the Church’s assets were greater than these of the Emperor of Rome for poor people of the Church. Certainly, this infuriated the Valerian, and Lawrence followed the martyrdom path of Sixtus on August 10, 258.

St. Lawrence served the Lord by offering life for the Church, protecting her assets by distributing them to the poor from being taken by the Roman authority. This is how he willingly and cheerfully gave himself as a grain of wheat fallen to generate greater harvest. It is certain that he is enjoying his share of eternal life, given by the head of the Church, Christ the Lord (i.e. Colossians 1:18), whom he followed and served with his life.

Does St. Lawrence inspire you for heroic discipleship and servantship , being a cheerful giver of life, sowing yourself as a grain of wheat for exponential growth of the Church?  If you are determined to be a martyr, you may be roasted on gridiron. Then, would you remain cheerfully while being grilled and say,  “I am well-done on this side, now turn me over for the other side”? This sure would make you a joyful giver of life per excellence, like St. Lawrence in his legend (2 Corinthians 9:7).