By Paul Cizek, Youth Minister
Our baptismal font is shaped like a cross. In our baptism we’re marked with a cross on our forehead. And, we’re always making the “sign of our cross” upon our head, belly, and chest.
Cross, cross, cross: and yet, it’s so easy it is to forget that following Jesus will cost us something.
Sacrificing ourselves for something is common, though. We sacrifice sleep to finish our work. We sacrifice dinner with our families for play practice, swim practice, or soccer practice. We sacrifice fun things now so we’re successful in the future.
Sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice: but for whom are we sacrificing?
Here’s one mystery of our baptism: that the baptismal waters of death are also the womb of life. As Jesus said, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Throughout this year, small groups of youth and adults from Holy Family will visit an Episcopal community in Durham called the Community of the Franciscan Way. These Christians have sacrificed themselves in order to live with those who would otherwise be homeless. They’ve committed themselves to a life of prayer, work, and friendship with the poor. And here’s the mystery: in sacrificing themselves for Christ and for those whom Christ loves – the poor, they have discovered true life.
So, I invite you to come and sacrifice yourself for Christ and for those whom Christ loves. We’ll visit, eat with this community, and help them take care of their house of hospitality. Space is limited, so contact Paul Cizek (pcizek@chfnc.net) or Wren Blessing (wblessing@chfnc.net) to come along. Perhaps we too will discover that in losing our lives for Christ’s sake, we’ll find true life.
Saturday, Dec. 1 (8a – 12:30)
Monday, January 21st (7a – 12 noon)
Saturday, February 9 (8a – 12:30)
Saturday, March 2 (8a – 12:30)
