The significance of sacrifices

(During the season of Lent, we were asked to commemorate Christ by making sacrifices. What are some examples of major sacrifices you have made in the past year during the COVID-19 pandemic? Why is it important to us as Catholics to make sacrifices? How can our sacrifices make us closer to Jesus?)

During these turbulent times, I had to make major sacrifices that would better me mentally and physically. Friends are a major pillar for this. I’ve gained and lost many friends during this pandemic, from either falling out of contact or toxic encounters or some other reasons. It kind of stinks, too, knowing them for years on end with no problems until now. Another sacrifice I made was time; I spend most of my week helping people rather than myself. One last sacrifice I made during this pandemic was happiness. I love the things I do, but they don’t make me happy anymore, such as video games. They aren’t bad for sure, but I want to find/do things that make me happier than usual, rather than stick to my old routine.

It’s important for us to make sacrifices for many reasons. One example is that we Christians cannot gain without giving. The Bible states,\ “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:9) We cannot receive blessings if we do not give any. The Lord expects us to give. Sharing what we don’t want/need isn’t sharing, that’s just giving junk. He wants us to share what we hold dearest to us. It’s a blessing that we can still keep a part of what we shared while still giving another part of it to someone else/thing. The last example is being greedy, which is a sin. God wants us to stay far away from negative emotions and feelings such as greed, and to rebuke it by doing the opposite. Which is being generous/giving.

Sacrifices can make us closer to Jesus in various ways, such as offering to a church. Giving back to your church has many benefits that affect everyone. It lets the church put the money to good use, it helps you practice doing good deeds, and all around brings the church together to Jesus. It also helps you get into letting things go. In life we need to let go to get better; holding on to bad or toxic things never does us any good. Sacrifices are a beneficial and important part in life.

Caleb James is a sixth grader at Blessed Sacrament School in Albany.