“Our society teaches us an aggressive autonomy, a self-serving logic of our time which is a dead-end both socially and personally.”

- Archimandrite Zacharias, The Hidden Man of the Heart, pg 180.

Reflection:

Do you ever notice when you do something that benefits only you, the reward is short-lived?  But for some reason, when we give and sacrifice for others, the rewards are many and long lasting.

The way of Christ and His presence in the world overturns human standards and values.(1) He shows us that giving and sacrifice is the kind of love we are created to express. 

In a society and world where we are often out for ourselves, Christ our God reminds us that we are created and designed for love: loving both God and neighbor.(2)  We are designed for community. 

The way of Christ, His Gospel, can heal our self-centeredness and pride.(3) While we may not suffer physical crucifixion for our Faith, we do sometimes ‘crucify’ our minds.  In other words, we sacrifice our ego, our selfishness, in order to love God and others. 

To begin to ‘crucify’ our mind is to overcome the desire to exercise authority over anyone, and instead be ready to serve others.

Let us pray for the strength and wisdom to crucify our ego, so that we may express our love for God and neighbor through giving and sacrifice.  This is what brings people together, and shows us our purpose in God’s will.

Resources:

1) Archimandrite Zacharias, The Hidden Man of the Heart, pg 177

2) Luke 10:26-28 ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’

3) Archimandrite Zacharias, The Hidden Man of the Heart, pg 180