A SACRIFICE VERSUS AN OFFERING TO CHRIST

A SACRIFICE VERSUS AN OFFERING TO CHRIST

By:  Eileen Renders                                                                   October 05/2023

   We as Catholics are taught that the Lenten Season is a time for sacrificing something we like and/or have become accustomed to eating, or doing. We know that we want to do this because Jesus sacrificed His body and blood for us through His crucifixion on the Cross to save us from our sins against Him. Lent is 40 days long, however, with Sundays’ potentially being excluded, Lent becomes just 40 days! For example, in 2023 Lent began on Ash Wednesday, which was February 22, 2023, and ended on Thursday, April 6, 2023, with Easter Sunday being Sunday, April 9, 2023.

   At the conclusion of Lent, many of those who sacrificed something special for Christ and were missing could then once again replace that food back into their diet, or once again return to whatever routine that they had temporarily sacrificed for Lent. 

   An Offering on the other hand given to Christ is something that we want very much to give to Christ without the understanding that it is temporary. It is a gift that we want never to take back again from Him. An Offering may then be considered a gift, a commitment of a positive change in our life. We may promise perhaps, to be a kinder, more responsible person. There is a desire to put Jesus first in all of our days, and because our Offering will hopefully come with a blessing, and the grace of God to always be faithful to our commitment, there is not a feeling of missing anything. Rather, we will be feeling that we have gained so much more than we have given through the never-ending love of God.