Giving Something Up

[Guest passerby]

I always hear people say "give it up to God". What does that mean?

[Pontifex]

I believe the exact quote is, "Offer it up." It is usually said when someone talks about some sort of suffering that they are going through. We say, "Offer it up." as a way to direct peoples pains and sufferings to the cross. We unite our sufferings to the cross so that they may be transformed and lead us closer to Jesus. Our transformation into the men and women God wants us to be comes through that, "trial by fire" or "gold tested in fire."

One problem with this saying, is that sometimes we can say it to people to quickly as a way of negating their struggle. We need to listen to one another, and lend support and then direct them to the offer up stage.

Peace,

Fr. P