Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Monday of the 19th week in ordinary time, August 10, 2026, Memorial of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

Delivered by Erica Tanzil from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. 2 Corinthians 9: 6-10; Rs psalm 112: 1-2.5-9; John 12: 24-26.GOD LOVES THOSE WHO GIVE WITH JOY The theme for our meditation today is: God Loves ThoseWho Give with Joy. Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Lawrence, whowas a deacon from Rome. He was killed by the Emperor Valerian in the 3rdcentury. In a particular moment, Lawrence was temporarily imprisoned andawaiting execution. He was considered the person who kept all the treasures ofthe Church, which were left by Pope Sixtus II, who had been killed four daysearlier. On the day of his execution Lawrence was ordered to bring along withhim and to submit all those riches being kept . Then he went to the place ofexecution followed by many people who were sick, lame, poor, abandoned whom hehad served every day. They were all the possessions of the Church beingdemanded by the Emperor. Saint Lawrence's life was a perfect example of givingwith joy. This means that he had given all of his life for the little and sickones, and this means that he was indeed carrying out the will of God. He wasfull with joy in doing the works that he Lord himself already did. At the timeof execution, he presented his favorite world which was a life united withthose who were absolutely powerless. So he was willing and happy to accept hisdeath sentence because after his death a spirit of giving with joyful heartwill grow in the life of those who have experienced God's love. When we give with joy, it is good that we focus on thepersons who need and who receive what we give. Our focus is not on things andgoods according to their quantity or price. If you focus your attention onpeople, you will automatically pay attention to the things they need. The focuson persons is much broader and deeper because we also include other aspectssuch as values, teachings, closeness, relations, psychology, culture and so on.It often happens that when these non-material aspects are properly attended,the material things are no longer our priority. When we give our first attention to the human person,both individual and group, the fruit of this will be our spiritualsatisfaction. The one who gives will be happy and at peace because he offersgoodness to others. This certainly gives him a positive help for growth. Theone who receives attention and goodness is also happy because he is helped tobe able to face the difficulty of life. This is really a noble and wonderfulexperience where people enrich themselves with gratefulness and mutual appreciation.God guides and blesses such expression of love and we are happy to livetogether in this way. God's love has no limits, and His most precious gift ofhappiness to us is the gift of eternal life in heaven where all of us will beunited in God.Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O most loving Father, Your Son Jesus Christteaches us to give with joy and to be motivated by love, grant that we willalways  practice this in every moment ofour lives. Our Father who art in heaven ... In the name of the Father ...