The Heart of the Sacrifice: An Advent Journey into Love
Scripture Passage
Heb 10:5-10
Brothers and sisters: When Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.’“ First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law. Then he says, :Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Grace Prayed For
A spirit of sacrifice: While the old covenant focused on animal sacrifices, Christ’s sacrifice was one of complete self-giving. We can pray for the grace to offer ourselves – our time, talents, and resources – in service to God and others.
Reflection
This Advent, we delve into a profound passage from the Letter to the Hebrews, a passage that unveils the heart of Christ’s mission and its Trinitarian roots. The writer unveils a divine drama, a shift from the old covenant of sacrifices to the new covenant of willing obedience, embodied in Christ.
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me…” These words, echoing Psalm 40, reveal a God who desires not empty rituals, but a heart surrendered to His will. This is where the Trinity comes alive:
- The Father’s Desire: The Father, from all eternity, longs for communion with His creation. He desires not burnt offerings, but a loving relationship with His children. This desire finds its perfect fulfillment in the Son.
- The Son’s Obedience: “Behold, I come to do your will, O God.” Jesus, the eternal Word, enters the world with a mission: to embody the Father’s will perfectly. He becomes the ultimate sacrifice, not an animal on an altar, but the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
- The Spirit’s Consecration: Through Christ’s sacrifice, we are “consecrated,” made holy. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, who applies the merits of Christ’s sacrifice to our lives, transforming us from the inside out.
This passage illuminates the profound shift ushered in by Christ. He takes away the old system of sacrifices, not because they were meaningless, but because they pointed to a greater reality: the self-offering of the Son. This is the “will” by which we are saved – the perfect obedience of Jesus, offered out of love for the Father and for us.
As we journey through Advent, let us contemplate this mystery:
- Surrender: Like Jesus, let us offer ourselves to the Father’s will, seeking to align our desires with His.
- Gratitude: Let us give thanks for the immeasurable gift of Christ’s sacrifice, the ultimate act of love that sets us free.
- Transformation: Let us open ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to consecrate us, to make us more like Christ each day.
This Advent, may we move beyond empty rituals and embrace the true meaning of sacrifice: a heart poured out in love for God and for others. May we, like Christ, say, “Behold, I come to do your will, O God.”
Growing in Intimacy with Jesus
Recognizing the True Meaning of Worship: The passage contrasts empty rituals with true worship, which is rooted in a heart surrendered to God. We can deepen our intimacy with Jesus by moving beyond outward religious practices and cultivating a genuine desire to please God in all aspects of our lives. This involves aligning our thoughts, words, and actions with his will..
Daily Scripture Reflection
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post