I was asked recently regarding the Catholic view of sacrifice. I did not realize what deep question this was. Deep as the mystery of our humanity and deep as the love of God.
In most pre-biblical religions we can see sacrifices to gods as a major component. Altars of sacrifice can be found round the world. It speaks to something deep within us that seeks to set things right through violence. Most sought to restore balance in nature.
In the old testament we see the beginning of a sacrifice of substitution where God provides Abraham the sacrifice he will gives instead of his son. This sacrifice does more than just restore the balance of nature but innates and sustains a relationship.
This substitution is made complete in Jesus' self emptying. Jesus' passion reveals the ultimate defeat of violence in his self giving sacrifice. His death is not the result a vengeful god but the tragedy that the truth came into the world and we killed him with the violence of our own sin.
At times we forget that the Father and the Son are one. The Father does not demand the life of his Son. The Son freely lays down his life in love. Happily, Easter celebrates that self-sacrifice of God in Christ triumphs over the violence of our sins.
We as catholics are ask to reflect Christ sacrifice in our lives. Not to pay the debt of our sin which we can not do but to embrace the self-giving love of God which gives us life. This forms the basis of all the sacraments for us. We lay down our lives in love to share in Christ's redemption.