We begin Passion Sunday waving palms of adoration and end with Jesus Christ on the Cross – the ultimate sacrifice. G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “the Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” Picturing Christ on the Cross this Holy Week, contemplate what He asks us by His sacrificial example: the ultimate Christian ideal. Here’s a poem i wrote several Palm Sundays ago after reading that Chesterton quote …
SACRIFICE: A DIFFICULT IDEAL
SACRIFICE
..is not necessarily easy or nice…
it’s HARD and TOUGH to do.
SACRIFICE
…lay down our lives?
…pick up our crosses?
(Jesus’ yoke making burdens light –
they’re still there, however much we fight…)
SACRIFICE = a journey
a process, one day at a time
letting go of ourselves
doing the ‘next thing’ –
small steps of faith, small ‘tries’
amidst difficulties, despair, frustrated sighs.
Letting go of what we can’t do…
so God CAN do. It. Through. Us.
Our sacrifices made anew.
JESUS –
The Glue
Keeping disparate pieces of our lives
(minds, hearts, spirits)
together
(no matter the weather…)
SACRIFICE –
‘tis hard, that’s true
laying our lives down…
But, as we try it…
God DOES make us new!
SACRIFICE
Tis’ a difficult ideal
(for real!!!)
…but a Person to follow
God in man (& woman!)
each day our hearts to fill
Flames of Fire
…Love incarnate on a Cross bleeding
…may our minds & spirits be heeding
JESUS CHRIST…
To know Him still
each day, in every way
Mercy in forgiving
Grace abounding
Joy in living
Love surrounding…
plus Peace & Understanding
& the Wisdom to do –
acts of kindness, courage & selflessness
without much trumpeted ado.
All for Him…
Ideals in living – who counts the cost?
Far richer the sacrifice
in Him Who makes ALL things New.
Broken hearts, dashed dreams
…& our stumbles along the way
HE takes us in as we are
from the rough & tumble fray
The Cross, HIS Sacrifice
…Leads us…
Every Day
…….
So, sacrifice? an ideal? … yes, ’tis possible – in Christ! – for real.
A blessed Palm & Passion Sunday to all…
grace, peace & sacrifice
Virginia
p.s. photo taken 25 years ago during a silent retreat @ the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Trappist, Kentucky.
Roses in the Rubble 
Beautiful
Thanks, Grace — so appreciate your affirmation. Sharing poetry can be kinda weird, as what works for me might not go over with others? Especially this one that ‘came out’ written on scraps of paper while eating a late breakfast one Sunday (when Papa was still with us) … He liked it, but i think he may have been the only one who read it!
big blessings + grace, peace & sacrifices — Virginia : )
That is an amazing poem, GL!
Thanks, Cindy — i don’t write much poetry, so when it ‘happens’ it’s kinda cool. I had plotted to post a prayer from St. Ignatius, but found this poem & thought, gee, this works for Passion Sunday… (or any Sunday for that matter…) Your encouragement is so appreciated!! Big hugs + grace, peace & sacrifice(s) — gL : )