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Gospel: John 12: 24-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Most children go through a superhero phase. Whether it’s Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, or the Incredible Hulk, children are inspired by the creativity, bravery, and sense of justice that superheroes bring.
Batman protects the city of Gotham.
Wonder Woman fights for equality.
There’s something instinctively good about these heroes putting themselves on the line, fighting for what is right and true.
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Every so often, a child grows up, becoming like the superheroes of their youth. In the Catholic Church, we call these men and women Saints.
Not because they possess a superpower which the rest of humanity does not, or because they are from some other planet, but because they lean into grace and put their faith into action, often with great suffering or at the cost of their lives.
Using the imagery of today’s Gospel, the Saints are like grains of wheat, who fall to the ground and die, producing much fruit – thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold.
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Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Lawrence, a deacon who lived in third-century Rome. Directly appointed by the pope, Lawrence was responsible for distributing the material wealth collected by the Church to the poor.
But in 258, the Roman Emperor Valerian issued a decree that all bishops, priests, and deacons were to be executed, and the riches of the Church confiscated for his own possession.
Before his execution, Lawrence asked for permission to collect the wealth of the Church. Seventy-two hours later, he presented a delegation of the city’s poor, blind, crippled, and sick to Valerian and said, “Here are the treasures of the Church!”
Enraged, Valerian ordered Lawrence to be seared to death on red-hot grill.
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The use of this man’s courage, faith, and creativity in the fight against evil are what make him a Saint. Or, you might say a superhero, capable of inspiring children and adults alike.
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Image credits: (1) Library of Congress (2) Instagram (3) The Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, Peter Paul Rubens