H
ow do I sacrifice myself for Christ?
1. I must love that which is sacrificed.
2. That which is sacrificed must be standing between me and the Lord.
3. The sacrifice must be made with love as its true motivation.
What things fit this criteria? Money, surely, to an extent. But, as I often tell people, I value time more than money. So -- time, then. I spend a great deal of "my" time in pursuit of my own mild pleasures. These must be sacrificed.
At times I worry that I have sold my witness to the Faith in exchange for peace with my friends and family. I truly do not know if this is true or not. Many people who know me are more sympathetic to the Church than they were before my conversion. But have I made myself lukewarm in order to be palatable? Am I over-valuing peace in my familial affairs?
The purpose of Christian sacrifice is not to suffer. He who loses his life shall save it. It hurts at first -- but its fruit is joy. Can I heed my own words?