Make Small Sacrifices for a Big Change

Making small sacrifices is not just for Lent, because sacrifices
and penance are necessary. As Christ said: “If any man would come
after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and
follow me” (Luke 9:23). And this is true all year long. But when
Jesus said to deny yourself, he didn’t mean to always go against
what you want. Really. He meant there are things I want that will
not make me more like him—a lot of things, actually. So following
him often means dying to self by denying myself those things.
Mortifications—little deaths to self—make us more like Jesus and
can be offered up for the sanctification of the world and others.
Mortification can come in many different forms. It’s not always
denying yourself something you want. Sometimes it means doing
something you don’t want. Sloth or greed can cause us to not do
things we should do. Choosing not to be slothful or greedy often
means doing something for someone else—and this is a little death
to self. Love is the not-so-secret ingredient that helps us die to
self. The entire gospel and Jesus’ life are about love. He is
constantly telling us and showing us how to love one another and
God. That’s because when we learn to love, dying to self becomes so
much easier since we start living for God and others. Life is hard
when we’re selfish, but when we live for love we see what Christ
means when he says “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”
(Matthew 11:30). You may also like No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk
Though Christ’s Passion (https://bit.ly/2BjgNu5)