The ‘Crossroad’ of Decision-making

Reflection for Thursday after Ash Wednesday
(Deut 30:15-20; Lk 9:22-25)

In this season of Lent, we are being summoned to make the right choice for our salvation. Lent is a time of decision-making—to choose God and choose life. “I call upon heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death...” our Lenten observances train us to have the right disposition to choose life, and enter into our eternal inheritance. The promise and blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob await those who make the right choice in life.

Nevertheless, the ultimate victory over life and death is set before us in the Cross of Christ. “Jesus said to His disciples, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things...and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’” In the Cross of Jesus is the ‘crossroad’ of decision-making. Our choices are judged right or wrong to the extent they draw life from the Cross. If we reject the Cross in an attempt to save our lives, we will lose it. But, “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me...Whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it.” Lent gives us the ‘platform’ to accept the Cross of Jesus through our daily crosses. There lies a life-saving choice, enriched with heavenly blessings.

Therefore, we freely and joyfully impose upon ourselves acts of penance! This becomes a ‘training ground’ where we acquire the necessary spiritual strength, and the proper disposition, to carry our daily crosses to Jesus. Thus, we learn humility and patience, which enables us to allow Jesus to lead the way, no matter the weight of the burden upon us.

Thanks be to God, the Lenten summon to choose has already been made for us: God the Father has chosen us in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world, and destined us for every spiritual blessings in the heavenly places (cf. Eph 1:3-6). Blessing that even surpasses that of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but is now made available through the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Mater Domini Community,
Enugu.
Thursday March 7th, 2019.