Living Sacrifice

St. Paul writes to the church in Rome: “I appeal to you, therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)

Sacrifice is not a concept we like to talk about much these days. Even though our country was built on it; even though our faith is centered on the cross which embodies it (literally) and demands it.

It seems like in this day and age, it is personal freedom is valued about above all else… It becomes so quickly all about me, my needs, my rights…  Just as an example –  when a close family member shared that he wanted to be a part of a clinical trial for a vaccine – my initial thought was – wait – that’s way too risky for you… Let someone else do that!

What we so often lose sight of, is that it is precisely in the sacrifice that true community is made possible. It is precisely in the sacrifice – whether it is the surrender of our ego and pride (which is hard enough!) or the setting aside of our rights for the sake of others – or the giving of more that we can afford, it is precisely in that sacrifice that deeper peace and meaning are found. And, it is precisely in our sacrifice that Christ’s body is made tangible in the world.

I know I’ve shared this with you many times, but one of my favorite writings is from St. Teresa of Avila. She put it this way:

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks (with)
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are Christ’s body.

Not just in a building, but out there in the world.

Let us pray: Gracious God, in Christ we see your sacrificial love for us. Help us give to others as we have received from you. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.