Self-Sacrifice

Once upon a time, there was a man who was thrown into prison for publishing a comment about a bad government. His name was Maximilian Kolbe. While he was in prison, one of the prisoners escaped and the deputy commander of the prison became so angry that he decided to punish the prisoners. He ordered that ten prisoners be starved to death in an underground bunker.

Among those who were randomly chosen for death was a young man called Francis.
He cried, “My wife, my children!”

Kolbe stepped forward, “I am a Catholic priest,” he said. “Let me take his place. I am old. He has a wife and children.”

Kolbe laid down his life for a stranger. This is why Kolbe is celebrated as a model of heroism, courage and self-sacrifice.

Reflecting on the life of Kolbe, I have always wondered about what motivates people to a life of self-sacrifice. I found the answer in the story of Jeremiah, where he says the Lord persuaded him and overpowered him towards a life of self-sacrifice. (Jeremiah 20:7)

In the story of Jeremiah, we can see how total self-giving to others comes with a price. Jeremiah was one sent by God to preach to His people, warning them to turn from their evil ways and return to God.

Jeremiah was totally committed to serving the people whom he loved, but his message was not well received. They criticized and insulted him, and several times they made an attempt to take away his life.

Jeremiah became so discouraged in giving himself to the community. He complained and contemplated giving up the assignment entrusted to him. He cried out,

“All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me.”
~ Ezekiel 20:8

We can imagine the pains of Jeremiah, especially when we recall any situation in which we were mocked, suffered public disgrace, criticized, insulted, or discouraged for doing something good. Despite the challenges of mockery and persecution, St. Paul urges us to offer our ‘bodies as a living sacrifice’. (Romans 12:1)

Jesus tells His disciples that He would have to offer His body as a sacrifice for the salvation of the world. The disciples understood suffering and dying in the hands of enemies as a disgrace and a sign of weakness. This is why Peter took Jesus aside and said:

“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to You.”

And Jesus sternly rebuked Peter:

“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Where did Peter go wrong? How is it that he (Peter) who was just called the rock became a stumbling block? It is true that he loved Christ and did not want anything bad to happen to Him. Those who love us would not want to see anything evil happen to us. Peter was trying to protect Jesus from the shame of the cross, but in doing so he was standing against the will of God.

Jesus says the way of the cross is essential for our salvation, and anyone who wants to be His follower must take up His cross and follow him. Today, many preachers downplay the message of the cross. The modern-day prosperity gospel says: “Once you are a Christian, everything becomes perfect for you; suffering, poverty, pain and sorrows will disappear from you, and riches and comfort come in.” This is not true.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
~ 1 Corinthians 1:18

In another instance, Paul boldly declares:

“… but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”
~ 1 Corinthians 1:23

Sometimes, when we are under the heavy burden of the cross of life, we shout out to God: “Lord, take away this cup from me.” But we must also add, “Let not my will, but Yours be done.”

The way of the cross and the way of the world seem to be two opposing forces. The way of the cross is the way of Jesus; the way of the world is my own way. Naturally, we tend to oppose anything that will bring us the slightest inconvenience in our lives, but Jesus says: suffering and self-sacrifice have value for our spiritual growth.

Let us draw inspiration from the words of L.P. Jacks:

“Most of us die of something; of disease, accident, old age. But occasionally, there appears in our midst a man who resolves to die for something… this dying for something, instead of waiting to die of something, as most of us do… is the strongest sense of human affirmation I know of.”

This dying for something, and self-giving, is precisely the message of the Cross.

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Photo: James Coleman, Unsplash / PD-US