Luke 18: 18-34
Luke 18: 18-34
One of the most striking and most disturbing phenomena of our time is the division that is growing on all fronts of society. It does not stop at the national borders, when peoples keep off anything that goes beyond self-interest. We see this division also in groups and individuals who fight for their self-interest and, in the process, shut others out—everyone for himself.
As long as we do this we remain stopped before the eye of the needle, which we sooner or later irrevocably have to pass through, for there is but one way that leads across the threshold—the narrow way through the eye of the needle. There we gradually lay down all that we have, in order eventually to enter the world of the spirit merely with what we are. Gradually—meaning that this high art of living has to be practiced step by step by the highest art of dying. It is the only way to overcome the sickness of the ego, egotism, and yet remain yourself. In different words, whoever wants to overcome his ego must learn to sacrifice.
That is the way Christ shows to the rich man: “Sell all your goods.” That means: Leave all attachment to the world of earthly goods behind. For you can take nothing of it with you to the other side of the threshold. Whether it be earthly possessions or a rich talent, everything we want to hold on to at all cost—sooner or later we will irrevocably lose it.
This is also the way Christ shows to his followers: to renounce everyone and everything that binds them, in order to have less and less, and be more and more.
Finally, it is the way Christ Himself went as no other human being. Beyond renouncing, He decided to embrace suffering—to be an outlaw, to be ridiculed, tortured, flogged and killed. It is His sacrificial way, which leads to life out of death.
–Rev. Bastiaan Baan, February 14, 2021
Yes sacrifice mysèlf. That has to be my decision. Another way is : to press another to sacrifice. Free will was and is the way of Christ. Who takes this free will from another and it happens often in a subtle way… thàt is never the way of Christ. I mean per example : when I left a person in need and I don’t care about him or her… That is this human being “press to an offer”. In the most positive way this “helpless” human being will try to màke it an offer. Christ decided to be an outlaw, to be ridiculed, tortured. It was a choice, his choice and therefore a real sacrifice. The Father except his sacrifice.
What to say about all the people who are ridiculed and so on. What about thàt human being who tortured his brother or sister?? Subtle or not so subtle. Better perhaps : sneaky…And what do we who have to do with this, seeing what happens???