Offer Life

To whom do we owe our lives? As a Christian and Catholic I would say I owe my life to Christ, but what about the world around me? My family, my friends and humanity as a whole, do I owe them my life?

This question is not something I spend lots of time thinking about, but I do think about it at times. Like this morning. A little light thinking… not! Such a big issue so early in the morning (it’s 8:10 am). But what can I do, I sit down to blog, and hope and pray I have something to blog about, and the first line just appeared on my screen. God works in mysterious ways.

To ponder life issues at this hour, to look deep within, that’s asking a lot of someone with only one cup of coffee in them, but her I go.

To me I owe my life to Christ, but that also means my family, friends and all of humanity. If we are to see Christ in everyone, then how can I exclude them? How can I not say that I also own my life to them? It’s a complicated issue, if you think about it.

My family and friends I understand, there is not one family member or friend that I would not give my life for (easy to say when they are not asking for it). But humanity? Give my life to people I don’t even know; now that’s asking a lot.

So, as a Catholic, I am to live life as Christ would, to be Christ like. And in doing so that means bearing my cross, and if called to do so, offering my life on the cross. That’s a tall order, and one that I am not sure I could do, for just anyone. But Christ did, and I am called to do so also.

Christ offered his life for all of humanity. WOW, think about that, for the saints and sinners alike, for the believers and nonbelievers. He gave the gift of life, so we would not have to. But this is a fallen world, and things sometimes just don’t work out. So who knows, I may, one day, be called upon to offer my life for someone I do not yet know.  What a concept!

Can I do it? Will I be strong in the moment?  Will I forgive them, as Christ did on the cross, Lots of questions, but no reply. It’s kind of sad to think that I am not sure what I would do. I consider myself to be a strong believer in Christ, strong in my faith, but can I be a martyr? Is my life a life worth the sacrifice?

Well according to God it is, he offered Jesus as an example for us, to teach us how to live, and to die. So if Jesus offered his life, we should be willing to do the same. I only pray that if I am ever asked to do so, I will have the faith to say yes, that I am ready and willing.

Paul