The Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our Offering
To be a true disciple of Christ, one must offer themselves entirely to God, renouncing self and relying on God's love and sacrifice.
Thomas a Kempis preaches about the importance of offering ourselves completely to Christ, drawing parallels to Christ's sacrifice on the cross and the need for us to daily present ourselves as a pure and holy oblation to Him. He emphasizes that Christ desires our wholehearted devotion and surrender, not just material gifts or sacrifices. Kempis highlights the necessity of renouncing self and freely offering our will to God in order to experience true grace, freedom of heart, and discipleship.
Text
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
AS I offered Myself willingly to God the Father for your sins with hands outstretched and body naked on the cross, so that nothing remained in Me that had not become a complete sacrifice to appease the divine wrath, so ought you to be willing to offer yourself to Me day by day in the Mass as a pure and holy oblation, together with all your faculties and affections, with as much inward devotion as you can.
What more do I ask than that you give yourself entirely to Me? I care not for anything else you may give Me, for I seek not your gift but you. Just as it would not be enough for you to have everything if you did not have Me, so whatever you give cannot please Me if you do not give yourself.
Offer yourself to Me, therefore, and give yourself entirely for God -- your offering will be accepted. Behold, I offered Myself wholly to the Father for you, I even gave My whole Body and Blood for food that I might be all yours, and you Mine forever.
But if you rely upon self, and do not offer your free will to Mine, your offering will be incomplete and the union between us imperfect. Hence, if you desire to attain grace and freedom of heart, let the free offering of yourself into the hands of God precede your every action. This is why so few are inwardly free and enlightened -- they know not how to renounce themselves entirely.
My word stands: "Everyone of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth, cannot be My disciple."[51]
If, therefore, you wish to be My disciple, offer yourself to Me with all your heart.
Sermon Outline
- The Offering of Christ on the Cross
- The Importance of Self-Offering
- Attaining Freedom and Enlightenment
- Renouncing Self for Union with God
- The Consequences of Self-Relying
- The Role of Self-Offering in Spiritual Growth
Key Quotes
“What more do I ask than that you give yourself entirely to Me?” — Thomas a Kempis
“Just as it would not be enough for you to have everything if you did not have Me, so whatever you give cannot please Me if you do not give yourself.” — Thomas a Kempis
“Everyone of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth, cannot be My disciple.” — Thomas a Kempis
Application Points
- One must be willing to renounce self and give oneself entirely to God in order to experience spiritual growth and union with God.
- Self-offering is a necessary step in becoming a true disciple of Christ.
- Relying on self rather than God can hinder one's spiritual growth and prevent union with God.