A few years after the death of Jesus and after the destruction of the city the animal offering ceased in the Temple in Jerusalem.  Since then there has been only one legitimate possibility for offering: the offering of one's self as Jesus did.  The New Testament, especially in the Letter to the Hebrews, summons us as "a nation of priests" to celebrate this offering of praise.  In this connection the writer of I Peter takes up the image which stands as the framework of this entire course: "Like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 2:5).

- Romans 12:1  (As living sacrifice)

- I Pet. 2:5 (Holy priesthood - spiritual offering)

-  Revelations 4:2-11 (The heavenly worship)

- Word meditation

„Lord, I am not alone,
I can be alone no longer.
Lord, I am many,
For people live in me,
they have burst into me,
they have established themselves there,
they have tormented me,
they have taken me into their possession,
they have consumed me,
And I have let them, Lord, so that they might nourish themselves and rest.
I also lead them to You when I give myself over to You.
I expose them to You when I expose myself to You.
There I am,
There are they,
Before You, Lord.“         (Michael Quoist)