Theme: Choose God, choose life.
Scripture readings: Deau30:15-20; Ps. 1:1-4,6; Luke 9:22-25
We have started our journey in the season of Lent. On the second day itself, there is a reminder to make right choices in our lives. Moses in the first reading from the book of Deuteronomy ends his discourse by asking people to make a choice between life and prosperity or death and disaster. The life comes from God. He is the maker of our lives. If anyone wants to choose life, then he or she must obey the commandments. Obeying God’s voice and clinging is the choice that people had to make if they wanted to live. The choice was there’s.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples after the confession of St. Peter; he had to suffer grievously, to be rejected and to be put to death. Jesus chose to die as the will of His Father. He heard the voice of His Father and clung to His Father. Jesus made a choice to do the will of father.
Jesus invited his disciples to make a choice of life. It was difficult to understand. It appeared to be hard and harsh but it was the right choice. He gave them three conditions to make this choice; renounce himself, take up his cross and follow Him. The disciples were given choice. However, Jesus made three explanatory statement that would make disciples easy to make right choice. Firstly, He told them those who avoid cross to save their lives, will lose it but those who lose their lives by accepting cross in their lives for the sake of Christ, will save it. This paradox recalls the great promise of heaven. Secondly, Jesus tells that the life does not consist of possession, it will remain here on earth; if we lose our soul, we have lost everything. We have lost our final destination. Thirdly, Jesus reminds them if they are ashamed of cross for His sake, He will be ashamed of them too when He comes in glory. The consequence of their choice. The disciples made choice of Jesus except one i.e. Judas.
Someone has rightly said, “you are free to make whatever choice you want, but you are not free from the consequences of the choice”. At the first day of the season of Lent, we are asked to make choice. We know there is life with Jesus. Are we ready to make a choice of Jesus in our lives? Are we ready to listen to his voice? Are we ready to renounce ourselves, take up our cross and follow him? The choice is ours.
Fr. Alex D’Mello
