I have been thinking a lot about sacrifice lately. I think sacrifice is so important, and I think that Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us yet another perfect example of how sacrifice manifests in lived sacrifice. I was praying a rosary last Tuesday, and while meditating on the sorrowful mysteries, I was meditating on the scourging at the pillar and had a thought illumined to me. I have always meditated on the scourging as Jesus lost so much blood, but last week I was struck that His passion was intentional and the fulfilled will of God the Father. So wouldn’t it be more accurate to say that Jesus sacrificed so much of his blood, and then where was He; in Jerusalem; God’s favored city. So would it be a stretch to say that Jesus sacrificed much blood on the altar that was the city of Jerusalem? I don’t think so. Jerusalem was a holy city, favored by God and was the chosen place for Jesus’s passion to come to fruition. I think it reasonably bears out that thinking in terms of sacrifice that Jesus didn’t “lose blood”, but sacrificed it. He willingly gave his perfect life for our reconciliation. I also think the location matters as well.
How often I find myself steering from discomfort, or trying to avoid uncomfortable things in this life; but also wanting to suffer for the sake of Christ. How contradicting. I am fully aware, but that starts turning into, well I want to pick and choose what suffering I partake of. So I have been led to pray for humility, in being joyful in the small discomforts with the hope of one day being entrusted with greater suffering for His sake. I also realize that this purification is also for my betterment. How great is Our God!
The Holy Spirit will inflame our hearts, and guide the orientation of our passions so that we act in accordance with the will of Our Father. This is true in all things, especially to help us grow in holiness so we can seek Christ in all things and all times. In feast and in famine, and surrender what we have been blessed with (our lives) to the Lord Our God. This is also true because He loves us so much.
I am so thankful that God reveals Himself to us and is unbelievably patient with us.
