Sirach urges us to be generous in our worship, and never to come before the Lord empty handed. We no longer practise sacrifice as part of our worship, but we can still be generous with God. When we present ourselves wholeheartedly and without holding anything back, then we have made a pleasing sacrifice. This can be humble and loving service to God and to others. Our sacrifice is spiritual, and it occurs when we focus on the well-being of others and of our world. Jesus told the rich young man to give away everything and to follow him. The rich young man went away disappointed. Peter began to be anxious, worrying that he and the others were going to be cheated. What about us? We left everything to follow you! Jesus reassured them: those who left everything behind for the sake of the kingdom would receive 100-fold in return. He ended with that puzzling statement that the first shall be last, and the last shall be first. This means that it is the givers - the generous and humble - who will be the winners in the end. The selfish and uncaring will be the losers, regardless of how rich, famous, and powerful they may be. We are here on earth to create who we will be in eternity - let us not waste the time and opportunity.