What is sacrifice?
This Sunday is November 10. It has been my pattern to observe Remembrance Day in the church the Sunday before November 11.
The theme of sacrifice is common in religious circles. You occasionally encounter devotees of one religious practice or another who will tell you it is only theirs that practices or believes in sacrifice; this is nonsense, but I’ll save that rant for another time.
It is an irony that the Old Testament and Gospel lessons for this Sunday are about two women making profound sacrifices. It is ironic because many people tend to remember the men who served in the military, whether or not they survived, and frequently forget the women and others who served–many in combat. The thing is sacrifice is for all of us. Certainly, some are more profound, more permanent, than others; there is no single “size” of action that qualifies as a sacrifice.
At this time of year, I try to remember those who served full stop. Not just in combat, not just in wartime, but who served. I commend the exercise to you. Remember those people in your life who have sacrificed and thank God for them.
In some ways this sermon didn’t go the way I was thinking would go or where I was planning on taking it but sometimes that’s the best sermon of all.
Blessings,
