February 25, 2024

LINK TO SERMON ON YOUTUBE
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TEXT: Genesis 22:1-14

TOPIC: Sacrifice, Part 2

SERMON SUMMARY:

Fr. Rob begins by observing how some things in life can be so familiar to us that we take them for granted without really noticing or thinking about them. He describes how after a backpacking trip, the modern convenience of clean tap water felt like a miracle.

Fr. Rob then applies this idea to the biblical concept of sacrifice. For Christians, the notion of sacrifice is so ubiquitous that we fail to truly contemplate its meaning and strangeness. We use sacrificial language constantly, yet would never actually sacrifice an animal like in the Old Testament.

The sermon then walks through three key biblical sacrifices - Cain and Abel, Noah, and finally Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac. It highlights how, for the earliest biblical figures, sacrifice was simply a natural expression of their relationship with God. Noah's sacrifice expressed trust in God after the flood.

But Abraham's intended sacrifice of Isaac represents a pivotal moment. After waiting so long for the promised son, being asked to sacrifice him was unthinkable. Yet Abraham's absolute trust and commitment to God led him to obey, revealing a fundamental principle - true life is found not in taking but in giving one's self to God through sacrificial love and trust.

This prepares us to understand Jesus, the son who did give his life as the ultimate sacrifice. The paradoxical truth is that in losing our lives for Christ, we gain them. Sacrifice is written into the fabric of reality, seen in family life. But done rightly, it flows not from pride or despair but from hope in God.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION & DISCUSSION:

PRAYER: