NAME: Hannah Patricia J.

Tumulak DATE:
SECTION: St. Luke

MY REFLECTION
“The greatest act of sacrifice is giving up one’s life for a friend.”

John 15:13 “There is no greater love than this that a man lay down his life for his friends” is
somewhat similar with the “The greatest act of sacrifice is giving up one’s life for a friend”. Most
everyone has already heard these words. Indeed the statement has become familiar to us as it make
it hard for us to look deeper to grasp their full meaning. If we look even deeper and consider more
fully, these words, we can come upon a stronger, even shocking reality.

Giving up one’s life for a friend can be tricky with other people. There is a question that I heard
from somewhere “would you take a bullet for me?”, “are you willing to make sacrifices?” Some
respondents says YES and some are NO. Sacrifices is not a concept that anyone really enjoys.
Although we are hearing the word more often these days. NO because they thought that they are not
morally obligated to do it so, they believe that life is equal, then you shouldn’t feel obligated to save
another’s life at the cost of your own. Others says YES, because they believe that sacrificing is
normal in everyday life. For me personally I would sacrifice my life for a friend. I am sure most of us
would agree on that, should it ever come, we would be willing to give up for our friend. Though we
can only hope to be given the courage and constancy to really do it. If it’s the way of saving a friend in
a dire situation then I would do it gladly. Sacrificing yourself for helping other people is a bliss you will
only experience once and it has a feeling of indescribable. Sacrificing yourself to help a friend is how
the heroes have always done the work if it’s the way for making the world better. Just what Christ did.
 Jesus Christ, in his human life, he was all about sacrifices—his whole life was a sacrifice. And
his is the life that has been exalted as the perfect pattern for our own. He sacrificed things that most
people prize as good and worthy. That Son, Jesus Christ, died as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity.
His death is, therefore, sufficient to pay the penalty for every human being’s sins. In paying this
penalty he has made it possible, according to God’s plan for each person and for humanity as a
whole, for us to have our sins forgiven and to be released from the death penalty. If we look at Christ,
the man speaking, and remember that He has no enemies, that is to say that He loves and looks
upon everyone as a friend. Perhaps, Christ said there is no greater love because of that, or rather
because he said there is no greater love such a love is so great.

For greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a
person sacrifices his life for his friends. Love is very understood as a strong feeling or emotion toward
another. Specifically, as Jesus identifies in the Gospel Passage, Love is a choice to “lay down one’s
life for one’s friends”. Laying down our lives indicates number of things. It shows the nature of love is
a total self-gift. This passage also reveals that love is sacrificial. Laying down your life clearly shows
that love requires a sort of death to self. It requires we look to other first, putting their needs before
ours. This requires true sacrifices and selflessness. Living a sacrificial life is fulfilling on many levels
and is ultimately what we are made for.

In short, sacrificing for someone you love may help you show them you care and even make
you feel good about yourself. So as he advices in verse 15, “therefore let us, as many as mature,
have this mind”. Like our Savior Jesus Christ, we must be willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to
“press toward the goal for the prize of the upward of God in Christ Jesus” (verse 14). The glorious life
of the coming kingdom of God is to attained through sacrifice. Reflect, today, do not hesitate on to
commit yourself to this depth of love. By giving yourself completely away you find yourself and
discover the presence of our Divine Lord.