Day 86. The Cost: One Pricey Pearl!

Part 4: A Treasure

Jul 17

*I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: someone has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them.*
Frodo, *Return of the King*

Graced with radical gratitude – or at least praying for the grace – we begin to see an alternative to pouring our life’s energies into the tiresome accumulation of treasures. More fully aware that I myself am a treasure “ransomed…with the precious blood of Christ,” (1 Peter 1:18f) I may be moved to make a sincere, total offering of my life to Christ. A loathing for mediocrity settles in my gut; my heart begins to glow with a zeal – a passion – for heroic sacrifice. “Take it all, Lord, I’m ready. I’m all yours.”

A word of caution is in order. Such dedication is excellent, but may be premature. “Without knowledge even zeal is not good; and he who acts hastily blunders” (Prov. 19:2). Remember that the enemy can tempt us to go too far too fast as easily as to not go at all. In other words, I may be tempted to think that the saintly way is to throw it all away for Christ; to daringly cast my treasures down at the foot of the cross without a second thought.

Jesus, however, advises his disciples to count the cost. “Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’” (Lk. 14:28, 29)

First, we notice that this is said of all Jesus’ followers – not just potential priests or religious-to-be. It is not only noble, but also necessary for all Christians to make the Lord their treasure. Renunciation of the good things of this world isn’t the way of some, it’s the basic requirement for every follower of Jesus, “In the same way,” he continues, “everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” (v. 33 emphasis added)

Count the cost. It means we should be aware of what we are giving up. And we should be aware of why we are giving it up. Today, we’ll look at the “why,” tomorrow we’ll consider the “what.” The principle we’re considering here is sacrifice. It’s something that would have been very familiar to the Jews of Jesus’ time, but it’s pretty murky to most of us. A little catch up is in order.

In popular speech, sacrifice refers to something costly given up in order to win a great prize. For example, the couple sacrificed for years to send all their kids to college, or, she sacrificed countless hours of training to win that marathon.

Biblically this meaning is secondary. In scripture sacrifice is a central characteristic of authentic worship. In the old covenant sacrifice was a means of reconciliation between God and humanity. Jewish law prescribes sacrifices for a wide variety of offenses; thereby making atonement for sins against the Lord. The blood poured out from sheep and oxen is substitutional; a powerful testimony to the forgiven sinner that wrongdoing is punishable by death; that lifeblood is the only thing that makes up for deliberate disobedience (Lv. 17:11).

Yet we know that these sacrifices only signified reconciliation. Often enough God makes it clear that the blood of animals can’t make up for the sin of humans. “What care I for the number of your sacrifices? says the Lord. …In the blood of calves, lambs and goats I find no pleasure.” (Isa. 1:11) In this sense old covenant sacrifice was anticipation more than expiation – it pointed to an atonement yet to be fulfilled; a future, perfect offering acceptable to Yahweh.

In the light of the gospel, we as Christians come to recognize this fulfillment in the ultimate, definitive, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. He alone has made true and lasting atonement (“at one”-ment) between God and humanity. Thus today the only legitimate form of sacrifice is that which perpetuates and re-presents the perfect offering of Christ. Our celebration of the Mass is a sacramental return to the upper room and the last supper. Here the priest, in the person of Jesus, speaks the words of consecration over the Eucharistic species to make present once again the body and blood of our Lord. We, the worshipping community, are invited to remember, relive and celebrate the central events of our salvation: from the nails, the spear, the blood and water of Good Friday to the empty tomb of Easter Sunday.

If sacrifice in the old covenant was an anticipation, sacrifice in the new is a participation that calls for imitation. We’re not spectators. We’re players on the field. Participating in the sacrifice of the Mass, we must be ready to consider what we’re willing to surrender in imitation of our Lord. Simply showing up at church on Sunday is not enough, despite the scandalous indifference of some Catholics. Salvation cannot be had on the cheap.

Imitation demands a response to Jesus’ sacrifice. “Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness, and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” (Phil. 2:5-8)

Jesus “emptied himself” – the Greek word is kenosis – and gave us an example. Every vocation is carried out in a similar spirit. While the world offers us “careers” which we weigh by their opportunities for personal advancement, Jesus offers us kenosis – a lifelong self-emptying which is both redemptive (life-changing for others) and transformative (life-changing for me).

St. Paul describes the redemptive side of self-sacrifice when he says to the church in Colossae, “in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church.” (Col. 1:24) Paul isn’t saying that Jesus’ sacrifice is incomplete, only that it opens the way for the fruitfulness of our own offering. My sacrifice is joined with Jesus’ and contributes to the spread of God’s kingdom. What an amazing gift!

Self-sacrifice is transformative because Christian life cannot progress without it. Again, it’s not optional. “Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.” (Jn. 12:24-26)

**Novena Prayer**

**Jesus says:** Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
**Pier Giorgio responds:** To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth – that is not living but existing.
**Let us Pray:** Blessed Pier Giorgio, teach me silence in the face of personal humiliation and unjust criticism. But guide me to be courageous like you in standing on the side of God’s truth. Help me to be faithful to Him in all things, so that His will may be done in and through my life. Show me how to persevere in the struggle for those things which are holy and honorable.
Blessed Pier Giorgio, I ask for your intercession in obtaining from God, Who is the source of grace and truth, all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare. I confidently turn to you for help in my present need: *(in your own words, ask for the Lord to give you the grace to listen with your whole soul).*
*A Book of Prayers in Honor of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, by Rev. Timothy E. Deeter*

Make it My Own

Daily Discernment Workbook

BREAK OPEN YOUR BIBLE

1. What is Sacrifice?

The following passages teach important lessons about the nature of sacrifice and giving. I write below my best one-sentence summary of the principle described.

Genesis 22:9-18