“…when Sts. Joachim and Anna gave to God that which was dearest to them in the whole world, did they lose their precious daughter by doing so? … Our Savior explains to us here the great mystery of sacrifice: any gift that we offer to our God — including and especially our very life itself — is by no means lost to us. Instead, divine grace transforms and transfigures it…”
(Hieromonk Gabriel, ‘Remembering Sion’ blog)