On becoming a living sacrifice during Lent

Mar 13, 2015

By Marge Fenelon
We think a lot about sacrifice during Lent. Generally, we think of it in terms of giving up something. Then, there are the days of fasting and abstinence, which can be a difficult time for many of us, accustomed to a comfortable way of living.

But there’s a kind of sacrifice that we might not think about, and that’s the sacrifice that is part of giving of ourselves to God and to others. It's a type of sacrifice that requires us to abandon our will and seek to serve God's will.

St. Paul speaks of self-sacrifice in his Letter to the Romans.

“I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom 12:1-2).

The apostle encouraged us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, which means behaving in ways pleasing to God.

Making of ourselves a living sacrifice requires putting aside our selfish desires and habits and allowing ourselves to be formed in Christ. The penances, fasting and almsgiving that we do during Lent help this process to a great degree. It helps shift the focus from the “me, me, me” that can absorb us on a daily basis toward a way of being that helps us think first and foremost: “What can I do for others and for the world?”

Many of us can go through the season of Lent as if by a reflex. We give up things here and there, year after year, but we do it more out of habit rather than having this habit produce the fruit of selflessness that Lent is supposed to yield. More important than giving is the attitude with which we approach the act of giving.

For example, we can choose to give up sweets or television or take an extra dollar out of our wallets at the offertory during Mass, but those actions won’t lead us closer to Christ, if we do it simply because we feel obligated to follow the Church’s guidelines for Lent, or if we do it simply so that others will see our generosity (a selfish act).

Truly giving and emptying ourselves will lead us closer to Christ when we do it consciously, when we don’t do it to call attention to ourselves or seek to be lauded for it. We have to be aware that we are called toward the noble things of heaven, not the superficial rewards of earth.

As Christians, we are members of the mystical body of Christ, and in that regard, all that we do affects the rest of the body. When we live in the spirit of sacrifice, of denying ourselves, we help to strengthen all others. When we live selfishly, we help to weaken others.

Lent is a remarkable, grace-filled time to join our sacrifices, our suffering, to the suffering of Christ and also to the suffering of all members of the Church. Together, we can strengthen each other.

It can change our perspective if we learn to see Lent as an opportunity to become a living sacrifice, to make every moment of every day a holy and pleasing offering to God.

St. Paul tells us that when we do that, our minds will be renewed in order to better discern God’s will. Along the way, we’ll develop not only an eye but a desire for all that is good, pleasing and perfect.

Our Lent can be a half-hearted, even superficial, giving up of things, or it can be an instrument of transformation, an opportunity to become what God asks of us.