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.”

~John 12: 24-26

Let us praise the Lord Brothers and Sisters this day and always.

Today in the Gospel we are called to die to the world. We must lose our life to gain it for eternity.

Today we also celebrate the feast of St.Lawrence. No better gospel than John 12:24-26. Saint Lawrence was a deacon and martyr for the faith. He served the Roman Church during the mid-third century. During his time St.Lawrence was a beam of light glowing with the Holy Spirit. He was a fighter and lover. He was Martyred because the Prefect during that time was a greedy man, a shocker. He wanted the Church's treasure, therefore asking Lawrence to bring him said treasure. In response St. Lawrence gathered the poor and sick supported by the church, angering the Prefect. So like any truly powerless man, the Prefect ordered the death of Saint Lawrence.

Now some of you may not know him by name but maybe you have heard his famous last words…

“Turn me over, I am done on this side.”

Brothers and Sisters, I want to invite you to be like Saint Lawrence. So in love with the Lord and eternity with him that you can be joyful when persecuted.

It is also important to point out that to “hate the world” does not be to destroy or ignore the issues it possesses but to hate sin, and not cling to the material. We must not allow our worldly lives to come before our spiritual. Eternity first!