This weekend, the liturgy for the Lord's Day coincides with the observance of Remembrance Day. In recognition of this occurrence, here are some thoughts motivated by the example of sacrifice given in the scriptures and in the lives of our wartime heroes.
This weekend (today) we celebrate Remembrance Day. One hundred years ago, the armistice (the agreement to end the First World War) was signed. We remember and we give thanks for the men and women who have given their lives in the pursuit of peace.
The spirit of sacrifice is the focus of our attention as we remember the gift that has been given by those who fought in the World Wars, in the Korean War, in Vietnam and in Afghanistan. The spirit of sacrifice is also apparent in the lives of the men and women who are currently serving in our Armed Forces and in a variety of peace-keeping roles.
The spirit of sacrifice is also a central focus in all the readings that we have heard today. In the first reading, the prophet Elijah has travelled to Zarephath, where he encounters a widow who is gathering sticks. When he calls out to her and asks for water and something to eat, she explains: I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering ... sticks so that I may go home and prepare it ... so that we may eat, and then we will die (1 Kings 17:12). Despite her dire situation, she sacrifices some of her meagre provisions in order to prepare bread for her visitor, and she is rewarded for her generosity (cf 1 Kings 17:15-16).
We see another example of sacrifice in the gospel. In this case, Jesus points out the difference between those who are putting on a show of righteousness and those who sincerely seek to give what they have received with no regard for their own gain, like the poor widow who places two small copper coins in the temple treasury. Understanding her sacrifice, Jesus says of her: Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all the others (cf Mk 12:43).
The examples provided by our war veterans and by the two widows mentioned today in the biblical accounts should always challenge us to live more and more authentically according to the gospel. This is never easy to do. The temptation is always for us to seek recognition for the things we do, or for the sacrifices that we make. We can even fool ourselves into thinking that we have gone to great lengths to help others, but in truth what we really seek is control of a given situation or to ignore legitimate authority in order to achieve what we desire. Following such human motivation only leads us down the path of the scribes who liked to walk around in long robes ... to be greeted with respect ... and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets (Mk 12:38-39).
Instead, an authentic spirit of sacrifice is born out of love, and it was love that was at the heart of Christ’s gift of himself. It always boggles my mind to think that our God, who created the universe and everything that it contains humbled himself to become one of us, and even more, that he was willing to sacrifice himself not for any human measure of gain but rather to enter into heaven itself (cf Heb 9:24). We cannot outdo God in His goodness or His level of generosity but we can strive to be like him by trying our best to live according to a spirit of sacrificial love.
Lest we forget
This weekend (today) we celebrate Remembrance Day. One hundred years ago, the armistice (the agreement to end the First World War) was signed. We remember and we give thanks for the men and women who have given their lives in the pursuit of peace.
The spirit of sacrifice is the focus of our attention as we remember the gift that has been given by those who fought in the World Wars, in the Korean War, in Vietnam and in Afghanistan. The spirit of sacrifice is also apparent in the lives of the men and women who are currently serving in our Armed Forces and in a variety of peace-keeping roles.
The spirit of sacrifice is also a central focus in all the readings that we have heard today. In the first reading, the prophet Elijah has travelled to Zarephath, where he encounters a widow who is gathering sticks. When he calls out to her and asks for water and something to eat, she explains: I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering ... sticks so that I may go home and prepare it ... so that we may eat, and then we will die (1 Kings 17:12). Despite her dire situation, she sacrifices some of her meagre provisions in order to prepare bread for her visitor, and she is rewarded for her generosity (cf 1 Kings 17:15-16).
We see another example of sacrifice in the gospel. In this case, Jesus points out the difference between those who are putting on a show of righteousness and those who sincerely seek to give what they have received with no regard for their own gain, like the poor widow who places two small copper coins in the temple treasury. Understanding her sacrifice, Jesus says of her: Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all the others (cf Mk 12:43).
The examples provided by our war veterans and by the two widows mentioned today in the biblical accounts should always challenge us to live more and more authentically according to the gospel. This is never easy to do. The temptation is always for us to seek recognition for the things we do, or for the sacrifices that we make. We can even fool ourselves into thinking that we have gone to great lengths to help others, but in truth what we really seek is control of a given situation or to ignore legitimate authority in order to achieve what we desire. Following such human motivation only leads us down the path of the scribes who liked to walk around in long robes ... to be greeted with respect ... and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets (Mk 12:38-39).
Instead, an authentic spirit of sacrifice is born out of love, and it was love that was at the heart of Christ’s gift of himself. It always boggles my mind to think that our God, who created the universe and everything that it contains humbled himself to become one of us, and even more, that he was willing to sacrifice himself not for any human measure of gain but rather to enter into heaven itself (cf Heb 9:24). We cannot outdo God in His goodness or His level of generosity but we can strive to be like him by trying our best to live according to a spirit of sacrificial love.
Ne l'oublions pas
Cette fin de semaine (aujourd'hui), nous célébrons le jour du Souvenir. Il y a cent ans, l'armistice (l'accord visant à mettre fin à la Première Guerre mondiale) a été signé. Nous nous souvenons et nous remercions les hommes et les femmes qui ont donné leur vie à la recherche de la paix.
L'esprit de sacrifice est au centre de nos préoccupations lorsque nous nous souvenons du don offert par ceux qui ont combattu pendant les guerres mondiales, durant la guerre de Corée, celle de Vietnam et celle de l'Afghanistan. L'esprit de sacrifice se manifeste également dans la vie des hommes et des femmes qui servent actuellement dans nos forces armées et dans divers rôles afin de maintenir de la paix.
L'esprit de sacrifice est également au centre de toutes les lectures bibliques que nous avons entendues aujourd'hui. Lors de la première lecture, le prophète Élie s'est rendu à Zarephath, où il rencontre une veuve qui ramasse des bâtons. Quand il l'appelle pour lui demander de l'eau et de quoi manger, elle explique: Je n'ai pas de pain. J’ai seulement dans une jarre, une poignée de farine, et un peu d’huile dans un vase. Je ramasse deux morceaux de bois, je rentre préparer ... ce qui nous reste. Nous le mangerons et puis nous mourrons (1 Rois 17:12). Malgré sa situation désespérée, elle sacrifie une partie de ses maigres provisions pour préparer du pain pour son visiteur et elle est bien récompensée pour sa générosité (cf 1 Rois 17: 15-16).
Nous apercevons un autre exemple de sacrifice dans l'évangile. Dans ce cas, Jésus souligne la différence entre ceux qui font preuve de justice et ceux qui cherchent sincèrement à donner ce qu’ils ont reçu sans aucun égard pour leur propre profit, comme la pauvre veuve qui place deux petites pièces de monnaie dans le Trésor. Conscient de son sacrifice, Jésus dit: Amen, je vous le dis: cette pauvre veuve a mis dans le Trésor plus que tous les autres (cf Mc 12, 43).
Les exemples fournis par nos anciens combattants et par les deux veuves mentionnées aujourd'hui dans les récits bibliques devraient toujours nous mettre au défi de vivre de plus en plus authentiquement selon l'Évangile. Ce n'est jamais facile à faire. Nous sommes toujours tentés de chercher à obtenir la reconnaissance de ce que nous faisons ou des sacrifices que nous vivons. Nous pouvons même nous leurrer en pensant que nous avons fait de grands efforts pour aider les autres, mais en réalité, nous cherchons à contrôler une situation particulière ou à ignorer l'autorité légitime afin de réaliser ce que nous désirons. Suivre une telle motivation humaine ne fait que nous mener sur le chemin des scribes qui tenaient à se promener en vêtements d’apparat ... recevoir les salutations sur les places publiques ... les sièges d’honneur dans les synagogues et les places d’honneur dans les dîners (Mc 12,38-39).
Au lieu de cela, l’esprit de sacrifice authentique est né de l'amour, et c'est l'amour qui était au cœur du don que Jésus Christ a fait de lui-même. Cela me dépasse toujours de penser que notre Dieu, qui a créé l'univers et tout ce qu'il contient, s'est abaissé pour devenir l'un de nous, et plus encore, qu'il était prêt à se sacrifier non pour une quelconque mesure de gain humain, mais pour entrer dans le ciel même (cf He 9,24). Nous ne pouvons pas surpasser le Seigneur par sa bonté ou son niveau de générosité, mais nous pouvons nous efforcer d'être comme lui en faisant de notre mieux pour vivre selon un esprit d'amour sacrificiel.
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