Thursday of the 4th Week of Lent
Ex 32:7-14
Jn 5:31-47
“…they have made themselves a calf of molten metal and have worshipped it and offered it sacrifice”
Honestly, this is the first time where it’s taking me a while to reflect. The scripture readings today did not speak to me at first. I read them again and again, trying to find which words or lines speak to me. Then the word ‘sacrifice’ stuck.
I am sure most of us understand what making sacrifices mean. One that immediately comes to mind is that of parents making sacrifices for their children, perhaps by giving up their own free time to care for them. That comes naturally and easily because of parental or familial love. However, God is calling us to another type of sacrifice — agape love which is self-sacrificing, one that is both unconditional and voluntary, non-discriminating and without pre-conditions. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, ‘it is right to offer sacrifice to God as a sign of adoration and gratitude, supplication and communion’ (CCC 2099).
In the Old Testament (OT), you will find various types of sacrifices being mentioned. The Jews’ worship in the temple often centred on the offering of animal sacrifices. The purpose of OT sacrifice was to bring about atonement — the process of reconciling sinful man with God. However, people did not learn from it and continued to sin throughout the ages. In today’s first reading from the Book of Exodus, they took it literally by building a metal calf to be worshipped and offered as a sacrifice. This is why “it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who approach…For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” God “neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law)” and this is why “He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Heb 10:1-10) It is because man still did not repent, allowing sin to continue time and time again, God had to make the ultimate sacrifice by abolishing the old ways and instituting the new sacrifice through Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16) See how forgiving God is? This is why, despite us committing sins repeatedly, He understands our weak nature and is willing to forgive us no matter what, through the sacrament of reconciliation.
Jesus is often referred to as the Lamb of God. Other than the obvious fact that lambs are innocent, gentle and docile creatures (reflecting Jesus’ nature), they were often used as the sacrifice. In Exodus 12:5, during Passover, the Israelites were instructed to sacrifice a one-year-old unblemished lamb and smear its blood to their doorposts so that the angel of death would pass over their houses and spare them the judgement, or all of Egypt’s first-born will be struck down. The sacrifice of lambs here was a foreshadowing of Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb. As crazy as it sounds, it is God’s will that his only son be made the sacrifice that will forgive all who believe in Him, and redeem humanity from eternal damnation. God goes to such a far-fetched extent just to have us reconcile with Him. This kind of love is so hard for our fallen nature to understand.
Perhaps this explains our somewhat warped idea of trying to make our own sacrifices, especially during the Lenten season. But do we do it because the priest or our parents said so? Do we do it because we want to please God? Or do we do it because it’s what Catholics do? What is the motive for our Lenten observance? Because God doesn’t need our sacrifices. The next time we resist the temptation to indulge in our favourite food, to binge watch Netflix, to spend hours on social media or anything that we love doing so much, say a little prayer telling Jesus that we want to make a little sacrifice because we love him.
Think of how he suffered being scourged and then being nailed on the cross. Surely, we can never be able to love like him; but at least open our hearts and allow him to flood us with his love, so that we can love our neighbours a little more. Start small. We don’t have to be ambitious in wanting to love our enemies. I am sure Jesus can see whatever efforts we make. Show him that we love him by our willingness to make sacrifices for others, not just for family and friends.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Cynthia Chew)
Prayer: Dear Jesus, we may not be able to love as much as you do us. Fill our hearts with your love so that we can go out and bring this love to those who need it. During this Lent, we want to have agape love. Bless our every sacrifice so that we can grow stronger in faith and love. Amen Thanksgiving: Thank you Jesus, for being the obedient son, following God’s will by being the sacrifice out of love for us. You do it even when we are most undeserving because you believe in us and want to give us a chance and hope. Thank you and we love you, Jesus!
OXYGEN 
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