This week we will begin with more on the scandal being revealed. We thus have a very coherent body of witness to the ultimate stumbling block being Jesus' death. Jesus knows that he can lead his disciples up to a certain point, but finally they will be scandalized by him, and that only the resurrection, at the same time as it removes the stone from the mouth of Jesus' grave, will remove the final stumbling block. The stumbling block that it will remove is the human impossibility of following and imitating another man in a path of self-donation that regards death as without substance. I will add the rest tomorrow - this was enough - maybe too much. I was reading this all as just another morning bit of reflection. Then, I read about this 'path of self-donation'. Often people use self-sacrifice. That also is a powerful term. And yet, as I simply say the words 'self-donation' I am a bit shaken. There is no distance between me and self-donation. I know what it is to donate something - to put it in the box being passed around - to open the clothing drop-box and dump in those clothes I no longer need. But self-donation - that is a real action. It mean giving me up - passing me on for the well-being of another. Sacrifice is an old word in some ways. It brings to mind ancient rituals. Even sacrifice in today's world is tied to things like sweat, time, and the like so that we improve ourselves or our situation. Self-donation is a simple giving up what is presently my self - and doing it for a reason. In line with this scandal, the self-donation takes place as part of the healing of a broken world that is as real as me putting myself out for another - freely with no expectations about paybacks or thank you notes - just given and shed we could say. Connection: Is this what happens when we follow Jesus? Are we being invited to donate life. That's what the banner is for organ transplants. People donate an organ - freely. No gift - no money exchanged - just life handed to another. I think about people who donate a kidney. They literally hand over life and they put their own life into some jeopardy. And yet - usually out of love for another, even a stranger - they do it. They self-donate. I will use this term on myself. O God of life, by the power of your Spirit of Life, you move us to see the worth of our own lives as part of a gift that can be given for the sake of others. Encourage our giving. Amen. |
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