Daily Devotional from the Spiritual Classic He and I

You know sometimes I ask you to sacrifice a sacrifice (June 14, 1937).

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1).

13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13)

15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. (Hebrews 13:15).

O Lord this little message today really appeals to me. What do we hear constantly as Catholics- sacrifice, offer it up, do penance! And yes that is needed. But what is all of that really if it is not done out of love for You? If it is just something that makes us maybe feel good or dare I say it, proud. Because we can so be like the Pharisee in prayer in the Gospel who looks over at the tax collector. We can think about how glad we are that we’re not them whoever they are, and proceed to tell You how we are fasting, doing novenas, fill in the blank! I have been following the podcast from Ascension all week about the Practice of the Presence of God and Brother Lawrence which talks about just living and working in Your Presence which in itself is prayer. Because every prayer and sacrifice should really bring us to You! What if the sacrifice You are looking for is mercy and praise! To in all our ways acknowledge You (Proverbs 3:6) and let You direct our paths! In other words to live in relationship with You! To ourselves be the living sacrifice holy and acceptable to You as we offer to You all that we are, which is our nothingness, so that You can fill us with Your All! O Lord not my will but Yours be done, let it reign in me and in everyone!