Monday of the Fifth
Week in Ordinary Time
(I Kings 8:1-7.9-13; Mark 6:53-56)
There’s an old story about a chicken and a pig planning the
farmer’s birthday. The chicken says to
the pig, “Why don’t we give the farmer a breakfast of bacon and eggs?” The pig responds, “Wait a minute. For you, it’s a small donation. For me it’s total sacrifice.”
Humans have always sacrificed animals to express their
gratefulness to God. In the account of
the dedication of Solomon’s temple today, “sheep and oxen too many to number or
count” are offered to the Lord. Because
animals are so vital for the welfare of the people, they actually represent the
people themselves. The reading today is
saying that the people want to give themselves over fully to God in thanksgiving.
As often as not, however, sacrifices from humans are compromised. People do not present to God the best that
they have but the expendable. Their
offerings do not represent whole-hearted commitment but appeasement. This is why Jesus has to sacrifice
himself. Representing all of humanity, of
which he is creator and exemplar, Jesus makes the perfect sacrifice to God the
Father. Of course, Jesus does not
immolate himself. Rather the world’s egotism
condemns him to death on a cross. His
acceptance of the injustice out of obedience to the Father redeems the world of
its sin.
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