“WARM WITH GOD’S LOVE”
Lenten Reflections
15thFebruary 2018.
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THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY
Reading 1:Deut 30:15-20 Moses sets before his people a program that beautifully describes the purpose and goal of our Lenten life: “Choose life . . . love God, heed his voice.”
Res. Psalm: Ps 1:1-4, 6 Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.
Gospel: Lk 9:22-25 Jesus lays down a formula for discipleship with him; To be his followers, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him.
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CHOOSE LIFE!
The first reading taken from the book of Deuteronomy calls us to keep the commandments by loving God, obeying him and walking in his ways. If we do so, we will possess the promises of God, which is life and prosperity. On the other hand one who doesn't follow the Lord chooses death and evil.
The Gospel speaks to us of taking up our crosses daily and following Jesus. Luke stresses DAILY, showing us the importance of being committed daily to embrace the crosses that come our way with love and fidelity. To embrace that which is painful, unrewarding, detestable by worldly standards is not easy. This is what Jesus did through his suffering and death on the cross for us, won for us redemption.
Choose! It is an imperative. It is crucial to survival, to salvation, and to the quality of our lives now and far into the future. Choosing a life of faith and the salvation of our souls requires that we let go of many things in this world. Even if God were to bless us with much in this world, we must strive to live in such a way that we are ready and willing to “give it up” if it were beneficial to our eternal salvation, or the salvation of others. This is hard to do and requires a very deep love of God. It requires that we are convinced, on the deepest level, that the pursuit of holiness is more important than anything else. Do not hesitate to make God and His abundant mercy the central focus of your life. Lent is one of the best times of the year to seriously look at the most fundamental desire and goal of your heart. Choose Him above all else and you will be eternally grateful you did.
Prayer: Lord, may everything we do begin with your inspiration, continue with your help, and reach perfection under your guidance. Help me to choose You above all else so that You will help everything in my life to become ordered in accord with Your holy will. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
Lenten Act: Keep a small item like a cross, a holy picture, a rosary in your pocket. As you go about your day, cling on to it and remind yourself that God is with you. Make a resolve to obey His voice, cling to him, for your life consists in this. (Dt 30:19-20).