今天是常年期第十九周星期一。教會在今天慶祝聖老楞佐執事殉道的慶日。最近出版的羅馬彌撒經書告訴我們：聖老楞佐（+ 258年）是聖西斯篤二世（St Sixtus II）的七位執事之一，于瓦勒良（Valerian）迫害期間殉道。在他被捕後，當局命令他交出教會的財富，但他指向一群窮人，說道：“這些就是教會真正的寶藏。”據傳統記載，他被置於鐵柵架上烤死。
今天是常年期第十九周星期一。教会在今天庆祝圣老楞佐执事殉道的庆日。最近出版的罗马弥撒经书告诉我们：圣老楞佐（+ 258年）是圣西斯笃二世（St Sixtus II）的七位执事之一，于瓦勒良（Valerian）迫害期间殉道。在他被捕后，当局命令他交出教会的财富，但他指向一群穷人，说道：“这些就是教会真正的宝藏。”据传统记载，他被置于铁栅架上烤死。
August 10, 2026 Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr Gospel: John 12:24–26
Today is Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time. Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, Deacon. The recently published Roman Missal tells us: St. Lawrence († 258) was one of the seven deacons of Pope St. Sixtus II who were killed during the persecution of the Emperor Valerian. On his arrest, he was ordered to hand over the riches of the Church, but he pointed to a crowd of poor people, saying, “These are the true treasures of the Church.” According to tradition, he was roasted to death on a gridiron.
The Scripture passage from the Gospel of John today tells us about the relationship between Christians and the world. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections. In fact, this is Jesus’ final address to the crowds before His Passion.
In this discourse, we see Jesus using an example from nature to illustrate the relationship between Christians and the world. (Cf. John 12:24) We know that in many countries, the number of believers in Christianity accounts for only a small portion of the total population. Even Catholics make up only a small part of all Christian believers. Thus, we can understand the relationship between the grain of wheat and the world that Jesus spoke of.
The grain of wheat that Jesus speaks of refers to Himself. He was to sacrifice Himself, be crucified, and destroy death through His holy death on the Cross. When He died on the Cross, He was like a grain of wheat dying to this passing world. After His Resurrection, He conquered death and restored vitality to a world that had lost its life due to the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve.
Today, a fracture has appeared within our Church. Some brothers and sisters in the Lord, in matters of faith and in every aspect of their lives, are in communion with the Successor of the Apostle St. Peter. They receive the sacraments from pastors who are in communion with the Successor of the Apostle St. Peter, and they live according to their teachings. Like Saint Lawrence the Deacon, they often proclaim the Word of God to the world with the fervor of martyrdom, and bear witness to the Word of God through concrete actions. Other brothers and sisters in the Lord, although they, like us, have received the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are not in communion with the Successor of the Apostle St. Peter. They choose to follow and be in communion with those pastors who are not in communion with the Successor of the Apostle St. Peter, and they receive illicit sacraments from them.
I would like to take this feast day to exhort those brothers and sisters in the Lord who follow pastors not in communion with the Successor of the Apostle St. Peter: be guided by the Holy Spirit. Do not follow those shepherds who cannot lead you into the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus spoke of. The kingdom they preach to you is entirely a kingdom understood according to the logic of this world. You should follow those pastors who are in communion with the Successor of the Apostle St. Peter. They are faithful to the Word of God and preach to you the Kingdom of Jesus—that realm composed of a God who loves man and men who are loved by God. If you follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and live according to His inspirations, you will surely be able, just as we are, to be filled with trust in God and longing for the Kingdom that Jesus spoke of. Then, at the end of this life, you will desire to join with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Lawrence the Deacon, all the saints in Heaven, and all the holy angels to praise God, proclaim His mercy, and serve Him forever.
On this feast of the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence the Deacon, let us join with Saint Lawrence the Deacon in offering this prayer to God:
O God, giver of that ardour of love for you by which Saint Lawrence was outstandingly faithful in service and glorious in martyrdom, grant that we may love what he loved and put into practice what he taught. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
這對我們而言，也是如此：如果我們只注視自己，就會受制於風浪，再也無法穿越生命水面上的風暴。偉大的思想家羅馬諾·瓜爾迪尼（Romano Guardini）曾寫道：“主始終親近，存在於我們存在的根源之中。然而，我們必須在‘距離’與‘親近’這兩極之間去體驗自己與天主的關係。因著親近，我們獲得力量；因著距離，我們受到考驗”（接受自我（Accettare se stessi），佈雷西亞 1992年，第71頁）。
这对我们而言，也是如此：如果我们只注视自己，就会受制于风浪，再也无法穿越生命水面上的风暴。伟大的思想家罗马诺·瓜尔迪尼（Romano Guardini）曾写道：“主始终亲近，存在于我们存在的根源之中。然而，我们必须在‘距离’与‘亲近’这两极之间去体验自己与天主的关系。因着亲近，我们获得力量；因着距离，我们受到考验”（接受自我（Accettare se stessi），布雷西亚 1992年，第71页）。
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