St. Lawrence was a deacon serving in Rome in 258 A.D. with Pope Sixtus II, who had been archdeacon of Rome before being elected pope. His duties included management of Church goods and distributing alms to the poor. Tradition says that when persecution began, Lawrence gave all Church money on hand to the poor, even selling the altar vessels and ornaments. Then, when the Roman prefect told him to hand over the presumed riches of the Church to the government, he assembled the poor of Rome, pointed to them and said, “Here are the treasures of the Church.” For this they burned him to death on a gridiron. 

2Corinthians 9:6-10: The principles behind St. Lawrence’s stewardship, and all use of one’s resources to help others, are laid down in the “begging” section (8:1 to 9:15) of this letter:  

This ministry is: an “indescribable gift,” the “privilege” of sharing in ministry to the saints, supplying the needs of the saints. It is giving oneself to the Lord and others. It is a “testing” that bears witness (see “glorify God” below). 

Attitude: “God loves a cheerful giver.” We must “make up our mind” to serve, not reluctantly or under compulsion. 

Guideline: The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 

Balance: We should give according to our means. We seek a balance between our abundance and others’ need. 

Motives: “The Lord Jesus Christ, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, so that by his  poverty we might become rich.” We desire to do something and to glorify God by:  

• our obedience to the gospel  

• justifying what Scripture says of us 

• revealing the grace God has given us 

• showing the proof of our love 

• the generosity of our sharing 

• causing many thanksgivings to God. 

• motivating beneficiaries to long for us and pray for us.  

• excelling in this “generous undertaking” as we excel in everything spiritual. 

Assurance: We will be enriched in every way for our generosity. God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 

John 12:24-26 speaks of life as an investment that should be productive: “Unless a grain of wheat… dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” This puts our focus on stewardship, managing all we have for God and his kingdom.  

Today’s Responsorial (Psalm 112) repeats the message for all, “Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.”

Prayer Prompt: Ask God how to live by each one of St. Paul’s principles of stewardship above. Ask what he needs from YOU.  

— Fr. David M. Knight

View today’s Mass readings, Lectionary #618, on the USCCB website here

Fr. David M. Knight (1931-2021) was a priest of the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee, a prolific writer, and a highly sought after confessor, spiritual director, and retreat master. He authored more than 40 books and hundreds of articles that focus primarily on lay spirituality and life-long spiritual growth.