This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.
“Lavishly he gives to the poor.” (Ps. 112:9) “Lavish” is a word we usually associate with luxurious enjoyment, not giving. But the heart electrified with true supernatural charity, a virtue impossible to develop through practice but rather infused directly into the human soul from above as God’s greatest gift–such a heart gives lavishly.
Some virtues, such as honesty and temperance, are gained through practice and habit, like muscles built up through a daily workout. Supernatural charity, the queen of all the virtues, is more like a superpower than like a bulging muscle. It is more like Superman’s ability to fly than a strong man’s ability to lift. It is not proper to human nature; rather, it is itself a sharing in divine nature.
The soul that is infused with charity has a blessing and a cross. Such a soul is blessed with the heart of Christ: It senses the needs of those around it, large and small, and aches to fill those needs, more than it aches over its own needs. It invests the best of its powers of creativity, and passionate effort, into the happiness of others. But in this, its cross is compounded because it shares intimately in the crosses of others.
Thus, the soul infused with charity gives lavishly, gives to overflowing.
How do we “score” this gift from heaven, the gift of divine charity? It is simple, but not easy. We do so by dedicating time to get to know the Sacred Heart of Christ through meditation on the Gospel and conversation with Him, as well as through participation in the sacraments. It is not that charity comes “automatically” through these means. But, these are the means through which He ordinarily chooses to grant this gift, sometimes little by little, and sometimes in startlingly large doses.
Today is the feast of St. Lawrence, and the readings are chosen for him. This saint, a deacon in ancient Rome, a deacon among deacons, was known for giving lavishly to the poor. His heart was driven, impelled, by charity. And like the grain of wheat in today’s gospel, following in the footsteps of his Lord, he gave his life out of charity, out of love, as a martyr.
Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Talk to Christ about what drives His Heart. What did He feel when He healed people’s physical afflictions? Did He want His healing to go deeper? Did He feel passionate zeal for others’ happiness? What drove Him, dripping in blood and exhausted, to grasp a heavy cross and push it up the hill of Calvary?
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