Liturgical Readings for : Saturday, 10th August, 2024
10-08 – St Laurence, deacon and martyr
FIRST READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 9.6-10
God loves a cheerful giver.
Thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap. Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no limit to the blessings which God can send you – he will make sure that you will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance, and still have something to spare for all sorts of good works.
As scripture says:
He was free in almsgiving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never be forgotten.
The one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide you with all the seed you want and make the harvest of your good deeds a larger one.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 111
Response Happy the man who takes pity and lends.
1. Happy the man who fears the Lord, who takes delight in his commands.
His sons will be powerful on earth; the children of the upright are blessed. Response
2. The good man takes pity and lends, he conducts his affairs with honour.
The just man will never waver: he will be remembered for ever. Response
3. He has no fear of evil news; with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.
With a steadfast heart he will not fear; he will see the downfall of his foes. Response
4. Open-handed, he gives to the poor; his justice stands firm for ever.
His head will be raised in glory. Response
Gospel Acclamation Jn 8: 12
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark, says the Lord,
he will have the light of life .
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 12:24-26 Glory to you, O Lord
If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I tell you, most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies,
it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.
Anyone who loves his life loses it;
anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life.
If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too.
If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.’
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reflection 10th August, St Lawrence, deacon and martyr John 12:24-26
I have always liked that saying in today’s first reading, ‘God loves a cheerful giver’. There are various ways of giving. We can give grudgingly, in the words of Saint Paul in that reading. My mother had a habit of saying when we did something she asked us to do but moaned and groaned about it, ‘Don’t take the good out of it’. We can take the good out of our giving by doing it with a face on us, as they say. People sense that we are going through the motions of giving but our heart is not in it. A cheerful giver is someone who gives quietly, willingly, gladly. This is the way Jesus gave. He gave with the joyful freedom of the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul in today’s reading assures us that when we give in this way, there is no limit to the blessings which God can send us. Giving cheerfully and willingly opens us up to receive God’s blessings.
In giving in this way, in the Spirit of the Lord, we discover that we end up receiving far more than we gave. This is reflected in the image Jesus uses in the gospel reading of the grain that dies but in dying yields a rich harvest. There is a certain dying to ourselves when we give cheerfully. We are not looking for anything for ourselves, such as sympathy or appreciation. When we die to ourselves in this ways, our life yields a rich harvest, both for ourselves and for others. When there is no selfish concern in our giving, the Lord can enrich us with his blessings and greatly bless others through our giving. Saint Lawrence, the deacon, exemplifies the cheerful giver who gave without looking for anything in return
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd.
