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by Rev. Fr. V.V. Paulose, Toronto, Canada
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)
Nothing is free in this world. There is a price
for everything.
Whatever we get free has actually been paid for by somebody. So when we enjoy or
use something, we should remember the sacrifice or the price behind it and be
thankful and grateful to the people for it.
"Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). The death of Christ shows the love
of God for humanity.
"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son" (John 3:16). He
is the ransom for all the sins in the world. Ransom means rescue or redemption
of any kind. All sins warrant death in God’s eyes. But the death of Jesus on the
cross has saved us from death to life. This is true love.
"Jesus gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for our brothers and
sisters" (1 John 3:16). This is the only way we can live and survive in joy,
peace and love on this earth and the life after. We are in the midst of
self-centeredness of me, mine and I, never yours. Can you believe the same
spirit of God still works among the people to live for others and die for others
without any quid pro quo or exchange of favours.
In 1941, Maximilian was arrested in Poland by the Nazis for harboring Jewish
refugees. He was sent to Auschwitz. When a prisoner escaped, ten men were chosen
to die an example, among them a married man with children. Maximilian
volunteered to take his place. He was starved for 3 weeks and then executed. He
was 47 years old .
"He Himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, having died to
sins, might live for" (1 Peter 2:24). It is worthwhile to live and die for
others. There is happiness and reward for it. "For to me, to live is Christ and
to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
Jesus, let us live for you because you died for us. Let us be healed from all our infirmities, defects and sins by your stripes. May those who believe and seek salvation and healings today be healed and saved. "By his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4). We pray for all who sacrifice their lives for others. All we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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