Today is the commemoration of Deacon Lawrence of Rome, who was executed by the Prefect of Rome in 258 A.D. as a result of the gruesome edict of Emperor Valerian (253-260) commanding that any Christian pastor or deacon should suffer summary execution and that all their earthly goods should be forfeit to the Roman state. The Prefect of Rome demanded that Deacon Lawrence turn over the riches of the Roman church. At his trial Lawrence asked for three days to gather together the wealth for the prefect. He worked swiftly to distribute as much Church property to the poor as possible, so as to prevent its being seized by the prefect. On the third day, at the head of a small delegation, he presented himself to the prefect, and when ordered to give up the treasures of the Church he presented the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the suffering, and said these were the true treasures of the Church. One account records him declaring to the prefect, "The Church is truly rich, far richer than your emperor." Lawrence was executed by the enraged prefect.

The church's riches are in things that cannot be confiscated by the state. The state can persecute the church by fire and sword, but cannot take her Lord Jesus from her. It cannot nullify the blood of Christ. It cannot put the baptized back into the slavering jaws of death. It cannot force the church to unsay the holy absolution. In such things the church is far richer than the state and the state cannot do anything to take those riches. The IRS has no power against this wealth. Indeed, if the local authorities would desire to subpoena the church's shepherds' communications, perhaps the leaders should print their sermons, tie them up in red ribbons and deliver them to the authorities. By taking our sermons the state is not taking anything away from the church. The church is giving a blessing to the those who work for the state.

It is said that Lawrence was roasted alive on a grid iron by the raging prefect when he turned over the riches of the church. Although this remains doubtful, some witnesses record Lawrence as saying to his executioners, "Turn me over. I am done on this side." in an attempt to make mockery of the church's enemies. We can mock their attempt to steal what cannot be stolen. They are welcome to try to steal what has been kept for us in heaven by our Lord: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" ( Mt 6:19-21). Government coercion in matters of faith is futile, because the conscience is not susceptible to worldly attacks. The suffering of the cross does not change the fact that the cross became the instrument of the triumph of Christ and the seat of His enthronement over the church. Lawrence knew this. He accepted and embraced his suffering as Christ's way of shaping him like the cross. Let us pray for the faith of Lawrence.