This past Sunday, the 10th of August, was the commemoration of St. Lawrence, the third-century deacon and martyr, one of the earliest and best-loved martyrs and saints of the western church. His commemoration also demarcates the beginning of “Martyrs’ Tide” in the long post-Pentecost period of the Church Year. From now until the Feast of St. Michael & All Angels at the end of September, the Church considers those who suffered persecution and died for the confession of Christ and His Word, who “loved not their lives even unto death” (Revelation 12:11). In this they fulfilled the Word of Christ, that “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (St. John 12:25). For taking up His Cross and following after Him, they are with Him where He is, and they are honored by His Father and His Church.
The traditions concerning St. Lawrence may or may not be historically accurate, but they are quite early, and in any case they do confess and teach important aspects of the Church’s faith in the Word and promises of Christ Jesus. The story is that, following the martyrdom of the bishop (Pope Sixtus) and the other six deacons of Rome, Archdeacon Lawrence was confronted by the governor, who demanded that he turn over the treasures of the church. He requested three days to do so, in which time he liquidated and dispersed the church’s assets to the needy, and afterwards he gathered the blind, crippled, and destitute and presented them as “the treasures of the church.” The governor was not impressed with his theological perspective or his sense of humor, and so sentenced him to be barbecued alive on a giant gridiron. Rather than breaking under such torture, St. Lawrence is said to have declared at one point, “I’m done on this side, time to turn me over.”
In developing and handing over this account of his martyrdom, the Church confesses the courage and conviction of those who are willing to suffer all, even death, rather than betraying or denying the Lord who loves them. As the Church made clear especially in the Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, Christians do not go looking for persecution, suffering, and death, but neither do they flee in fear when it comes their way and confronts them. The Church has also understood and confessed that the holy martyrs, such as St. Lawrence, did not remain steadfast by their own reason or strength, but they were strengthened and sustained under the Cross by the Word and Spirit of Christ Jesus. Martyrdom itself was recognized and understood to be a witness – the evidence and testimony – of the Lord’s faithfulness in accompanying His own through death into the Life everlasting. Thus do we also remember and give thanks for the holy martyrs to the praise and glory of God.
Our Lutheran Confessions teach that it is appropriate and beneficial to honor the saints who have gone before us for several reasons: First of all, we give thanks to God for these men and women because they are His gift to the Church on earth. Second, we are strengthened in our faith by the example of His mercy upon them and His forgiveness of their sins. Third, we are encouraged to love and serve our neighbors within our vocations and stations by the example of their works of love in their own time and place. (Augsburg Confession XXI)
In the case of St. Lawrence, we give thanks that the Lord in His mercy called this man to faith and to the service of the Church, and that through him Christ provided for the needs of His people and extended His mercy to the poor and needy. In this example we are encouraged to demonstrate charity and love to the neighbors God has placed around us in this body and life. And in the example of his martyrdom, we are emboldened to value such neighbors – even the poor and lowly and despised – over and above the gold and silver of this world, and to suffer persecution for the faith and confession of Christ in the hope and promise of the Resurrection.
It is in knowing that we have already died with Christ in Holy Baptism that we are called to lift up our hearts and minds to “the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God,” in the certainty, peace, and joy that our Life is safely hidden with Him there (Col. 3:1-3).