A Huge Mini Sacrifice (03/22/2024)

This past Wednesday, I took some chocolate covered mini cake donuts to class for the youth. I have found that many of them are coming from practice and haven’t eaten. It’s just a small treat every week, but it is something to tide them over. I handed out the donuts, one to every student. Then we had class. We were focusing on the Corporal Works of Mercy.

About 45 minutes into class, one of the students realized that there were still donuts on the table. He asked for a second. I explained that I was one short of the number needed. Since everyone couldn’t have one, no one could have one. A young man in the middle row raised his hand. When I called on him, he said, “I don’t need a donut. Let everyone else have one.” I questioned him a couple of times, but he held his ground. He was sure he wanted to make the sacrifice for the others.

This young man’s sacrifice touched me especially because I knew he was usually the first to want a treat. I’m not sure his fellow students realized fully how his willingness to do without guaranteed their ability to receive more.

After class, as I was walking to my car, I felt a hand on my back. I looked to see who it was. It was this young man. I spoke to him and told him how very touched I was by his sacrifice for others. He smiled a most humble but most radiant smile. We reached the parking lot and told one another “goodbye” until next week.

The LORD had touched this young man in a special way with the grace to give to others even when it meant he would get nothing for it. I thanked the LORD for being a witness to the young man’s loving sacrifice. And I began to wonder what I could give to others if I was only willing to make a small sacrifice myself. Before bedtime, the list was quite long.

As we complete our 5th week of Lent that calls us to a journey marked by prayer, fasting or denying ourselves, and giving to others in need, may we take time to ask ourselves what we could give to others if only we are willing to make a small sacrifice ourselves. The need among our sisters and brothers is quite large: clothing, food, care, companionship. Will we surrender our desire for the need of another?

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.