Sacrifice (Ann)

The first Sunday in Lent, I found myself at church with my parents and daughter for the first time since the COVID outbreak had peaked during the winter time. When I saw the priest saying Mass that day, I inwardly groaned a bit. He is notorious for homilies rife with staunch condemnation and I often left Mass feeling worse after his preaching. With it being Lent, I figured this homily would be no different and likely even more damning given the season. When he started his homily, I was pleasantly surprised to be struck by its message in a positive way. The focus of the homily was sacrifice and one line really stuck with me--"every act of sacrifice is rooted in hope." You don't give something up for nothing. You give something up with the hope that, in doing so, something else will improve or you will effect some positive change. I have spent the rest of the week (and beyond) with that message on my heart. What am I hoping for in my sacrifices, both large and small? God is using that hope to do His will and the sacrifices made as a result are honoring God's will--what an awesome feeling!

Needless to say, I think I need to sacrifice my prejudice towards certain priests and their homilies...you never know when God will speak to you through them!