Thursday After Epiphany

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you. From fraud and violence he shall redeem them, and precious shall their blood be in his sight. May they be prayed for continually; day by day shall they bless him.

God sent His Beloved Son into the world to redeem us from sin, hatred, violence, selfishness, and all other evils. He purchased our lives with the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. He made His Son into a living sacrifice through Christ's Passion, Death, and Resurrection. We should all be humbled to think that God came down from Heaven, became man, and sacrificed Himself for a people who constantly sin against Him. How many of us would be willing to sacrifice ourselves for those who ignore, abandon, persecute, and abuse us on a daily basis? And yet, this is what God calls us all to do... to love others as He loves them, which means being willing to suffer and even die for those who would do neither for us.

Do we thank God for all He has redeemed us from in this life? How can we act more Christ-like in our treatment of others, especially those whom we find most difficult to love? What can we do to prepare ourselves to become living sacrifices to God for others?

O Lord, bless us and make us into holy sacrifices to you for others.

Amen.