Berna and I grew up in religious traditions where “giving up” something for Lent was expected. Many of you probably did too. The idea of sacrifice was “built in” to religious practices.

According to Wikipedia, “The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, mortifying the flesh, repentance of sins, almsgiving, simple living and self-denial.”

Spirit

One of Johnny’s and Berna’s favorite spiritual teachings is A Course in Miracles, as some of you know. The Course says this about sacrifice: What is the real meaning of sacrifice? It is the cost of believing in illusions.

This idea of sacrifice being a noble and desirable thing did not come from God. It’s a strictly human construction. And it was forced upon many by the various religions and other spiritual traditions around the world.

Do you think God or Goddess requires you to give up anything to become worthy of His/Her blessings and gifts? You ARE worthy, just as you were born and just as you are today.

You need do nothing to earn that worthiness. It’s who you are.

The concept of sacrifice was (and is) used by religious leaders as a simple tool allowing them to control their people. It’s nothing more than that.

We would urge those of you reading this to see sacrifice as just that—a tool to control human lives.

You deserve better than that. You deserve to live lives devoid of sacrifice, to live lives of joy, peace, and love.

That is what God and Goddess want to for you. Not sacrifice.

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In this short video, Franciscan priest Roger Lopez gives us a much different perspective of lenten sacrifice than many of us were taught.