On Sacrifice
Brother says:
The world has various images when it comes to sacrifice:
- A soldier jumping over a grenade to contain the blast
- A pilot crashing the plane into the World Trade Center
- A woman leaving her family to earn a living in another country
- A man leaving his family to pursue a relationship with another woman
- A farmer selling his precious “carabao” to send money to his college son
- A son spending the money from his father on drugs
In this world, sacrifice connotes various images. Sacrifice is justified in various ways. Sacrifice is glorified for various purposes.
Looking back at those sacrifices I made in the past, I realized many of those are not worthy to be called “sacrifices”.
Because the true essence of sacrifice is:
“When we talk about sacrifice, we usually mean giving up something. But, it means much more. It comes from two Latin words, “sacrum” and “facere,” which means “to make (oneself) holy.” Again, looking to the liturgical season of Lent, we do not give up things simply for the sake of giving them up… Thus, the sacrifice of the Mass does not merely mean killing or giving up something, it means that we are becoming more [different] than what we were.
…We have to die to ourselves to make a good sacrifice. We do this by such things as sharing, swallowing our pride, and giving up a little of our time. This is not always pleasant. The purpose is not to get a nice feeling, it is to become other, to become like Christ.”
When we are about to make a sacrifice, let us make sure that is, indeed, according to God’s will.
For it is the will of the Father that we become holy.
That we become divine.
That we become Christ-like.
For Christ is the ultimate sacrifice.
“Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
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Let us glorify God in our lives!
Sister Replied:
I was about 10 years old when an old lady noticed a mole on my shoulders. For some old folks it connotes of the cross a person would carry in her life. Sounds weird, strange and morbid, her comment strucked me and made me keen observer of the word cross -which led me to give it a new meaning – sacrifice.
I can still vividly remember how I put effort in studying my lessons inorder for me to excel in school. I have learned to value my education and sacrifice my playful years for books and homeworks. Long days of library work, weekend group works, and lots of nights- studying and even cramming. Studying entails sacrifice I suppose.
Relationship for me back then was sacrifice rolled into one. Broken -heart, sleepless nights, swollen eyes and lots of broken promises. I was a victim of the wrong notion of love and sacrifice … that to love is to be hurt and to be hurt is to suffer and to suffer is to sacrifice for the one you love. I was blinded by this misconception and have allowed pain to calloused my heart until the reasons for loving has no reason at all. My sacrifices became torns that hurt me deep down inside.
Loving my family is embracing the responsibility of providing them what they need, even at the expense of leaving home for greener pasture- sacrificing time and distance inorder to provide. True enough that to be able to meet both ends, a price should be payed. Strings of sacrifice must be pulled together to make you stand strong and brave, though at times bewildered.
Every step in our life is a period of sacrifice - time to do something more to achieve a goal or time to deny ourselves for others to achieve their goals.
Christ life is more than sacrifice. He suffered for us. He carried not only his cross but all of our crosses to win the battle of saving us from sin.
When I whine about my crosses and sacrifice, I look back to Christ. And I am belittled by my actions- for I dont have the reasons to complain because I have not given much sacrifice for him after all. The Ultimate sacrifice for all.
In ourlives, We will glorify God.
