Dear children, let us not love with words or speech
but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18
What sacrifices are you making at this time? Spending time with others, ability to get out and go where we want, sports, socialization. Were you prepared to have the normalcy of life to be changed so quickly? I would think that the answer for most of us would be “no”. So not only are we having to make sacrifices but sacrifices without preparation. Why are you making sacrifices? Out of a fear of your loss of life, fear of the loss of life of those you love, fear of the loss for those older people in our community? Sacrificing out of a respect for authority? As we prepare for Easter think about the example the Christ set on the cross. Christ was the embodiment of the purpose of sacrifice. To love another more than oneself, to respect authority despite suffering, doing what has to be done. It is not easy especially when we typically have more say so in the sacrifices we make. We distract, avoid, suppress, the call to do what is right much of the time. Or we do it in a way that is within our comfort, in our time. Today we are being asked to make sacrifices outside of all of our comfort without much choice. Take this time to reflect on the power of sacrifice and how the sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross changed the world forever. IN our sacrifices we have the ability to change ourselves, our families, and our communities. This may feel like an obstacle for many, but can you take the time to contemplate the power of love that Christ provided to us and how do we reflect that love into our lives and those around us today?
You cannot have love without sacrifice because otherwise it is just self serving. The agape Love that Jesus speaks of in his Greatest Commandment, is one that doesn’t have conditions, doesn't have an expiration date, it is something that we cannot earn nor could we ever deserve.
It is my prayer that each of us experience Love more completely this week, by striving to Love others as God has Loved Us!
Jonathan J