Suffering During Holy Week-What Does it Really Mean to be Compassionate in Our World?
Making Sacrifice Holy
Photo by Austrian National Library on Unsplash
Let’s face it:no one likes to sacrifice. Due to our fallen nature, selfishness seems to come easier to us than sacrificing for one another. Even though we are called to take up our cross daily, if we’re honest we’ll admit that carrying a cross is tough business, and not something we seek (even though we should as it joins us to Christ’s suffering.) And it doesn’t matter if the sacrifice is small (taking out the trash, making the bed for our partner) or large (giving up a golf outing or watching sports to spend time with our wives,) actively embracing sacrifice can be tough.
Here’s a tip I’ll give you that can lessen the load of the sacrifice, turning our temporary discomfort into something magnificent. The word sacrifice comes from 2 Latin root words which mean to “make sacred.” If we look upon our sacrifice as a sacred offering to a loved one in need, that turns what could have been a real pain into something quite holy. Offering up the sacrifice of our time and effort and looking at it as a holy gesture turns what we often view as a negative event into a very positive event, especially if we offer up the task to God and ask for blessings not just upon ourselves as we make the sacrifice but upon the person for whom we are doing the sacrificial (sacred) offering. So the next time you have to make the bed, or watch a movie of your spouse’s choosing, offer up that small act as a sacred gesture, a prayer, and you’ll be amazed that you may actually look forward to sacrificing for those in your life.
PS-A sacrifice is most welcome when it’s offered as a freely chosen gift rather than something you are asked or “expected” to do. Either way you can offer it up in prayer as a sacred gift, but try to find little sacrifices you can make for your loved ones and even for strangers; doing so will help you grow in holiness.
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