What You Can Sacrifice This Holy Week

Source: oakwoodfwb.com

I belatedly realized that this week pala is Holy Week. I blame that on not being fully employed (until today - I will share with you the details soon!) and the jetlag from our trip.

Kung makajetlag, akala mo kung saan nanggaling. Luzon lang pala!

Anyway, I've been hearing and reading again promises to give up meat on Holy Friday. If you love eating meat and want to sacrifice something you love in order to deny yourself and focus on Jesus, by all means, go ahead. You have my full support (if it matters).

BUT

But if you're only giving up meat because many other people are doing it, you may be doing it just to fit in. In other words, the sacrifice is not for the Lord but for other people.

Also, if you're not into eating meat in the first place, what's the point of giving it up? And if you're going to replace pork with baked salmon or roast turkey, is it still sacrifice?

This post is not meant to guilt-trip readers. On the contrary, I want you to get out of the legalistic mindset and do something more genuine for Jesus. After all, nothing is more genuine than what he did when he died on the cross for us. So here are my suggestions:

1. If you must sacrifice, sacrifice what you think you can't let go. Make it personal.

It does not have to be food. It can be Facebook or watching TV. It can even be as simple as texting. The main point of sacrificing is to practice our faith and show ourselves that no matter how we think we love these things, we need to put God above everything.

We need to transfer the "devotion" that we unconsciously give to this "thing" to the one who truly deserves it: the Lord.

2. Rather than "kill" Jesus over and over again, celebrate his triumph.

For me, the Holy Week is not a sad time. Instead, it is a time for celebration because I am reminded that Jesus triumphed over sin and conquered death and is able to grant us salvation. It's over; it's done.

Source: newlifetriangle.org

We, especially the children, need to know that Jesus truly suffered at the hands of humans, but this should remind us of our sinful nature and how we are in dire need of saving instead of invoke a feeling of "pity." I believe we are the ones who need mercy, not the other way around.

So let's celebrate. Let's sacrifice not in sorrow but in reverence for Jesus and what he did for us all. Let us be amazed, not appalled. Let us praise him, not pity him. Let us make this week about strengthening our faith and convictions, not merely conforming to tradition.

Oh, and here's a third, pahabol suggestion:

3. Give.

I believe that if we are to sacrifice something and deny ourselves of a valuable thing, it should also translate to giving. Have you ever heard of the saying, "Live simply do that others can simply live"? It operates on the concept that we need to deny ourselves something so that the money or energy used to obtain this thing can be given to those who are more in need.

I assume most of us are in a pretty privileged position where we have the choice to give. But sometimes, giving is a sacrifice, even when we can fully afford to do it. This may be the better sacrifice because it means something.

Instead of merely abstaining from meat, why not feed the hungry? Instead of merely abstaining from shopping, why not buy clothes for the naked? Instead of abstaining from texting, why not go out and talk to the old and lonely?

God loves givers because he uses us to bless the less fortunate. Now, I believe this is the kind of sacrifice that is more noble. For me, this is also the kind of sacrifice that makes sense. I mean, denying yourself of a pleasure may test your faith, but translating it into giving molds your heart and strengthens your conviction.

And I almost forgot...

4. Instead of making a one-time sacrifice valid for a limited time only, make a sacrifice that you will make every day of your life.

Make a decision to sacrifice the old life of sin and negligence and commit to live a new life in the Lord Jesus. That's the ultimate sacrifice.

So, are you game? Will you do these sacrifices with me?