Give It Back to God

32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

This Sunday, the second reading will be from Hebrews 9:24-28, but read the other readings for context.

Does it seem unfair to you that somebody else took the punishment for our sins?

Yeah, me neither. And yet, that’s the way it was under the old and the way it is under the new.
Under the old covenant, once a year, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make a sacrifice of atonement for the people. Because the high priest himself was not worthy to do this, he would first sacrifice an animal for his own sins, and then another for those of the people.

These actions were a foretaste of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross - he gave his whole self up for our benefit, not just communally, but for each of us individually. The high priest under the old covenant had to first make atonement for his own sins, Christ did not have any need of doing this.

He gave to us his whole self. What do we give him in return. St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Galatians that for himself, that he no longer Paul who lives but, “Christ who lives in [him]” (2:19-20). Is that true for us?

Do we likewise present our whole selves, our lives, and every action that we take to God, in thanksgiving for all that he has given to us? Do we have that kind of trust to place ourselves wholly in the hands of the almighty God?

What parts of our lives do we yet fear to place wholly in his loving hands? Is there a place where we want to do it ourselves? Where we fear where his guidance will lead us? Where we want the easy path? Where we are ashamed of our brokenness?


Let’s Pray:

Jesus,
Thank you for the incredible sacrifice that you made on our behalf. Increase our trust in that sacrifice and increase our trust in you. Help us to see the parts of our lives that we are not willing to give back to you and help us to grow in the trust that will enable us to more fully surrender those things to you.

Amen

This blog post is dedicated to the memory of Zelie Anne-Marie, a child lost to abortion. Find out about naming a child lost to abortion at 50millionnames.com.

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