Thursday after Ash Wednesday
As we enter the Lenten season, today’s readings remind us that life in Jesus is about making choices. Luke first recounts Jesus foretelling His disciples what is going to happen to Him. Jesus tells us that to follow Him, we must deny ourselves and take up our cross daily. This is not just about extreme suffering but also denying ourselves. This is most difficult today because we live in a culture that continually bombards us to indulge ourselves, but we must focus on letting go of anything that competes with God
for priority in our lives including self- centeredness, profit driven ambition and more. Honestly ask yourself if you are truly taking up your cross daily to truly follow Christ in love and faith.
In Moses last sermon before he died, he, too, talks about choices with stark contrasts on what we can expect if we choose to follow GOD’s commandments OR turn our hearts away, not listen and go astray. “Choose life” by loving God, walking in obedience to Him and the commandments. This again, is not easy in the world we live in as we are human and thus, sinners. Although it can be challenging to choose life, we must continually try by calling on the Holy Spirit for guidance, so we continue to carry our cross daily and walk with Jesus to our salvation.
Let us deeply reflect on our choices this Lenten season to choose life by carrying our cross daily.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we pray for the strength, honesty, and courage to choose life leading to eternal life with you for “Blessed are they that hope in the Lord”. We pray this in Jesus’s name. Amen
Eileen Casey, ‘81
Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website
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