Sacrifices are tough

It’s not easy to give up something we want.  Many times we just want to take the easy way and go along with what everyone else is doing, but that isn’t what God wants from us.  God expects more from us, and we should expect more from ourselves.  It would’ve been easy for Mattathias to just make the sacrifice to the king to keep the peace (1 Mc 2:15-29), but sometimes a little disruption is what this world needs to realize that society’s ways are not always right.  Mattathias knew as a leader he needed to stop his people from committing this grave sin, and he did so with all his might. Thank God our bishops know that, too, according to this news story today.   I wish I had that kind of courage to speak up and say what needs to be said to change someone’s mind. Sometimes, I find myself just going along with the group, not willing to create the confrontation that would result from me presenting a conflicting view.  Sometimes, we need to create a little tension and discomfort for people to see the reality of a situation.

Jesus knew that sacrifice is hard, and He had to give the biggest sacrifice of all: His own life.  He knew it was so hard that the minute He was faced with where He would be sacrificed, He wept. (Lk 19:41-44) He gave of Himself so that we might be with God, and did so out of great love.  He knew the structures in place that kept the peace would ultimately be the cause of His death and the suffering that would come to His disciples.  He made a sacrifice, and now we need to make sacrifices for Him.

Here is another story of heroic sacrifice.

It’s hard for me to make sacrifices.  I’m always running five different directions with millions of things on my 'to do' list.  Taking time to just be still and pray does not happen as often as it should, and we all need that time to reflect on our actions and listen to and speak to God.  When I don’t take that time on a daily basis, it creates a disconnect within me, and it can be awkward trying to remember why I like the peace and quiet and to remember what my true purpose is.    I need to make sacrifices for God, and sometimes that just means taking ten minutes out of my day to go sit in church and pray.  It’s so simple, yet so difficult sometimes, but I know the more time I spend with God, the deeper our relationship becomes.  The deeper our relationship becomes, the more I feel confident that He will always be there to help me though the rough times of my life.  This is so important to me, because I often feel lonely when I am away from home for a week at a time, due to my job. 

I was feeling somewhat sorry for myself this morning in this regard when I turned on the radio and Mother Angelica (the foundress of EWTN) was on.  Actually, the program is reruns of the weekly shows she hosted from 1983 to 2001.  Anyway, she was talking about loneliness!  (*** Holy Spirit Alert!*** He must have known what I needed right then!) She said something that was obvious, yet deep at the same time and then, when I read the readings for tomorrow for this blog, what she said was reinforced.  She said “We only feel lonely when we think we’re alone.”  At first, I thought “Duh”.  But think about that.  When we realize that we are never alone, we need not feel lonely. Jesus will always be there, but we need to get to know Him better so that it will be easier to recognize Him.   

Again, the best way to get to know Him is to talk with Him in prayer, and listen to Him in meditation. 

As the Psalms proclaim:

"Offer to God praise as your sacrifice

and fulfill your vows to the Most High;

Then call upon me in time of distress;

I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me."

-Psalms 50:14-15

O God, even though we sometimes don’t show it, we are a grateful people, and we ask You to continuously remind us of the many reasons we have to be appreciative;  for with appreciation comes the JOY of knowing You.

Immaculate Heart of Mary
Pray for us now and at the hour of our death.

Today, I pray for all the lonely people in the world.  I pray that Jesus makes His presence known to them to relieve their loneliness.  Amen