God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.
The Author of the Letter to the Hebrews has taught us about Jesus our High Priest. He offers the only acceptable sacrifice, which is himself, to Almighty God within the Heavenly Temple. He alone enters through the veil into the Tabernacle not made by human hands.
Since that time we understand his teaching more clearly with the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. God the Son impelled by God the Holy Spirit continually worships God the Father even as The Father expresses himself in an outpouring of love which is The Word.
Together they are inspired, which inspiration is the Holy Spirit. We are created in that torrent of love to be caught up in that whirling dance of Divine Love, surrendering our lives in daily acts of sacrificial love.
Or something like that. It's deep.
The Author encourages us to do good and share what we have, for that is how we play our part in this Divine Economy. We enter the Sacrifice of Jesus by our life of giving, and God is pleased.
The Life of Faith, for all its trouble and distress, is a happy way of life. Our happiness runs deep because we see no end to it. Wealth, ease, comfort, power, health, status and every earthly pleasure will pass. We can see their limits and they're not far down the road. Faith alone can see eternity.
Stretching before us also is the life of our community, the congregation of believers who have gathered faithfully every Sunday since that First Easter. Nothing is lost when we surrender all we have to fellow believers for we own everything together. And even when we give to non-believers we know that we are simply planting seeds whose blossom and fruits are guaranteed by the Sign of Resurrection.
The sacrifices which please God, then, are mingled with the One Sacrifice of Jesus. We are, as Saint Peter and the Second Vatican Council assured us, a priestly people.
Much of our Mass is inspired by the Letter to the Hebrews; and the Mass gives direction and form to our Catholic way of life. This is why we call our elders priests. This is why we build churches with altars and tabernacles; and why we use incense, candles, vestments, acolytes, choirs and readers.
Whenever we gather with our priests or bishops around the altar we see Jesus entering the Sanctuary not made by human hands. Whenever we give even a cup of cold water to a brother or sister we know this deed is holy, a sacrificial offering, acceptable to the Lord.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.