Is sacrificial love in harmony with the teachings of the Church? Did our Lord, Jesus Christ sacrifice His life for us? Does Holy Scriptures teach us to be imitators of Christ? Are we made in His image and likeness? Certainly we have heard the homilies, read the commentary; we hear the voice in our souls saying it’s better to give than receive. Of all the commandments which speak to the truth, isn’t love your neighbor as you love yourself the greatest and simplest  instruction on how to live with each other and in each other. As parents and children of parents, as brothers and sister, friends, colleagues, allies, strangers on the street and souls in distress all over the world; hasn’t our sacrificial love reached out to all. The answer must certainly be, yes. And so it is; but is it the only answer?

Bishop Barron says; Love is willing the good of the other for the sake of the other. He says; the Almighty Father doesn’t just love, He is Love. Our Father wills the very existence of the universe, with, through and in love; from second to second, in every aspect and respect. Our Father knows all, sees all and uses all for our greater glory, for our greatest good. He knows for sure and for certain what is and what will be. So for us too, love is a conscious decision, a willful act, grounded in heart and mind. The difference being; we don’t know for sure and for certain what will be. Christ’s death on the Cross was a willful act with a purposeful end. He is the cause and the effect. Not so with us; we do not know the effect, cannot see the result. By thinking we can know the result, we put ourselves into the equation and have introduced the question of quality and quantity; doesn’t this sound egocentric. Now not only have we decided to act out and for the greatest good, we are also deciding on the cost and the results; something which we cannot know. However, we can apply the God standard and ask ourselves are we acting out of love, humility and appealing to everyone best interest and highest ideal; this we can do. We cannot sacrifice, we can make the best decision we can and leave everything to God’s goodness.

G.K. Chesterton said, paradox is the truth standing on its head to get attention. So let’s admit we cannot sacrifice, we can be in this moment receiving the gift of Grace. We can remove the obstacles in our hearts and watch Christ’s goodness flow out of us, into the waiting world, a world in great need. I offer you this; before we act, before we give of our time and resources, before any whisper or hint or glimmer of goodness, we receive the suffering of this world. Yes, in a world where suffering has no value, where suffering is avoided at any cost, we embrace it, we smother it, we accept it willingly and thankfully, because in the suffering lies strength. The strength and courage to lean on the Cross. The strength and courage which brings the endurance and peace at the end of the day. I’m not suggesting we suffer for ourselves, not suggesting we suffer for others and certainly not suggesting we suffer for the sake of suffering; I am suggesting where Christ gives Divine Mercy, we show self-giving love and earthly compassion.