Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?”
In our Old Testament reading today we hear,
“Moses said to the people:
“Today I have set before you
life and prosperity, death and doom.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin on you today,
loving him, and walking in his ways,
and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees,
you will live and grow numerous…”
Each day we choose life or death in our choices and actions and words.
Each day we must decide to do what the commandments and Jesus taught or we choose death and sin. For to choose to do anything we know is not the will of God is to not choose God. To tell God we would rather do what he does not want and what is not best for us.
Usually, it is because the world has made a promise of security or pleasure or love. Which is an odd thing since God is love and so it is his domain. The world wants us to focus on the now and be focused on our wants rather than others. The one who focuses only on themselves does not know love, for love is always outward bound.
But Jesus says take up your cross which can mean many things but often it means choosing to give to others or put others first. To serve and even to sacrifice for others. For we are called to love others as we love ourselves. The world will offer love but it does not know what it offers. It mistakenly thinks love is to be attracted to another when in reality love is about commitment, discipline and focus. We are first called to love God himself and it will require discipline and commitment too. Just like the spouse who wants to be a good spouse to another they are committed and will not be swayed. They are disciplined and know they must say yes each day to that love. Each day put another first.
On this Thursday after Ash Wednesday we should more than ever remember that relationship with God and grow stronger in it. Always seeking and watching and committing to do his will first and choose his way in our life. It is a choice of life or death.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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