Coyans in the Czech Republic

lent

sacrifice

Even when he disobeyed you and lost your friendship you did not abandon him to the power of death, but helped all men to seek and find you. Again and again you offered a covenant to man, and through the prophets taught him to hope for salvation. Eucharistic Prayer IV

Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. Romans 5:6-8

Lent for followers of Jesus is a time of sorrow and sacrifice. Inspired by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, believers are encouraged to give up, sacrifice, something during the 40 days of Lent. Traditionally this has been meat or food altogether for a day or two. These sacrifices remind us of His death for us on the cross and remind us of our sin and weakness. "During Lent, we do not add things, we take them away, and by depriving our stomachs of familiar comforts, we learn something powerful about our weaknesses, our needs, and our desires." (Devotions for Lent)

This year I wanted to give up something that would remind me not only of His sacrifice for me, but that would also leave me changed and more like Him thus, glorifying Him even more.

The gang that had seized Jesus led him before Caiaphas the Chief Priest, where the religion scholars and leaders had assembled. Peter followed at a safe distance until they got to the Chief Priest's courtyard. Then he slipped in and mingled with the servants, watching to see how things would turn out. The high priests, conspiring with the Jewish Council, tried to cook up charges against Jesus in order to sentence him to death. But even though many stepped up, making up one false accusation after another, nothing was believable. Finally two men came forward with this: "He said, 'I can tear down this Temple of God and after three days rebuild it.'" The Chief Priest stood up and said, "What do you have to say to the accusation?" Jesus kept silent.
Then the Chief Priest said, "I command you by the authority of the living God to say if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." Jesus was curt: "You yourself said it. And that's not all. Soon you'll see it for yourself: The Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Mighty One, Arriving on the clouds of heaven." At that, the Chief Priest lost his temper, ripping his robes, yelling, "He blasphemed! Why do we need witnesses to accuse him? You all heard him blaspheme! Are you going to stand for such blasphemy?"
They all said, "Death! That seals his death sentence." Matthew 26:57-66

In these verses I see the amazing, impossible example of a man, a God-man, but, nonetheless, a man who would soon die a painful, horrible death, facing His convictors, being beaten and humiliated, knowing He could rain down wrath from heaven, and not saying a word. Yet, at the smallest provocation, I release a torrent of complaints and comments alluding to my dissatisfaction. So, for Lent this year I have given up complaining. I long to be more like Jesus and I hope that this will be an opportunity for deep change in my life and a sacrifice that honors Him.