Page 81 - Built For God Handbook (Annotated and Explained Edition) - The Christian Edition of the Tao Te Ching - The New Evangelization - Pope John Paul II

15

That word, sacrifice, tends to have a negative connotation for most people.
Yet properly understood and lived out, it can provide deep meaning and
even joy. The word comes from the Latin term sacrificium (a sacrifice)
derived from Latin sacrificus (performing priestly functions or sacrifices), a
combination of the concepts sacra (sacred things) and facere (to do or
perform). So essentially, to sacrifice is to make something holy. Sacrifice
entails being selfless, so even heaven and earth are a sign of the creator’s
selflessness as they were created for us to enjoy and care for as stewards
of that creation.

The second paragraph of this chapter plunges us into the heart of a
theological mystery – the sacrifice of the Son of God, poetically expressed
so well in Philippians 2:5-11. As Son of Man, Jesus was so secure in the
Father’s love for him that he could reject the three temptations to try to
make possessions, prestige, and power the main focus of his life, unlike
many of us. One of the greatest gifts given to us by God is our free will. That
gift presents us with a choice – we can be willful, or selfish, stubbornly
insisting on our way and probably fall for these temptations. Or we can be
willing, humble, selfless, and seek only to do God’s will for us, as Jesus
sought only to do the will of the Father.

This will involve being selfless, willing, and some degree of sacrifice as we
practice a spirituality of letting go. Not surprisingly, when Jesus spoke of his
kingdom and those who would be his disciples, he presented three actions
flowing out of this basic understanding of sacrifice – deny ourselves, take up
our cross, and follow him (Matthew 16:24-28). Those who do so will find a
life full of purpose, fulfillment, and even joy. Because happiness and joy
cannot be pursued – they happen to those who are selfless, can sacrifice,
and learn to live for others.

b
a 1 John 2:16-17; Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1; Matthew 23:11-12;
c
Philippians 2:5-11; John 17:1-5; John 14:16-17; John 14:26;
John 15:12-13.