Imagine a man named Frank who had lived his entire life inside a cave. One day he steps outside and begins to observe the world around him.

He sees that in nature there are powers, some stronger than others.

The greatest among animals is the lion; it eats all the other animals, and none are above it. It is great.

Soon he learns something else: the lion gets hungry. And when it does, it eats other men. So, he learns to fear it.

To avoid becoming the lion’s next meal, Frank brings it food. A rabbit today, another tomorrow. Feeding the creature becomes a ritual offering. A sacrifice.

Frank hopes that by giving something valuable, this greater power will spare him. In consequence, man has developed a relationship with the Lion. But it is a relationship of fear.

This way of thinking shaped much of the ancient world. Pagan peoples offered sacrifices to their gods so the gods would not grow angry. Many pagans worshipped the Sun, seeing it as above all other creatures. They burnt their animal offerings so that the ashes would rise to the Sun’s mouth. If the god was fed, perhaps it would grant crops.

Many Christians still have this view of God.

When the pagans ran out of animals or when they thought the gods were angry, they sacrificed something infinitely more valuable: their own children.

But the God of Israel revealed something completely different. When God called Abraham, He began to teach humanity that He is not like the pagan gods: He does not need us, nor does he benefit from our gifts.

In fact, when Abraham was asked to offer his son, God stopped him and provided a lamb instead.

That moment foreshadowed Christ.

Many of us grew up with parents trying to sell us mass: “you have 168 hours per week. Can’t you give 1 to God?”

But at Mass, you do not go to feed God. You do not go for Him because Christianity is the complete reverse of pagan thinking. God comes down, makes Himself a sacrifice, and offers Himself to feed you.

Open wide your mouth.

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