On this second day of Lent, our readings present us with a choice
that we are to make today and every day of this holy season: will I take up the
cross or not?
In the first reading, Moses presents this choice to the
Israelites. After 40 years of wandering
in the desert, they stood just on the other side of the promised land. Before crossing the Jordan River into the
land flowing with milk and honey, Moses presents them with the choice between
two ways of life: one of life and one of death. “If you obey the commandments
of the LORD…you will live…however,if you turn away your hearts and will not
listen…you will not” Even in the promised land they would have to face
temptation, they would have to face hardship.
So Moses explained to them what was at stake here: if you do not obey
God, you’ll never make it.
Jesus in the Gospel presents the same choice: only this
time, what is at stake is not simply earthly prosperity, but eternal life with
God: failure to take up the cross will result in the loss of one’s soul. So
what will you choose? To indulge every impulse, every fantasy, every ego trip,
every fleshly desire? Or will you take up the cross of Christ: will you fast,
will you sacrifice, will you obey God even when it’s hard, will you suffer for
the truth?
The
cross is the path of life, it is the Royal Road to the Kingdom of God and we
are invited at the beginning of Lent to share the cross more deeply that the
Lord may bring us to new life.
Even the Psalm this morning speaks of this choice: will you
follow the counsel of the wicked or the law of the Lord? For those who delight
in God’s law will be like a tree planted beside running water which will always
bear fruit.
Today, February 11, in addition to being the second day of
Lent, is of course the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and since 1992 has been set
aside as a World Day of Prayer for the Sick. Even here is the choice: the
deepest healing, the most important healing we need is to come before the Lord
as sinners, recognizing our need for mercy. Will you kneel, will you bow, will
you repent?
We ask our Lady’s prayers today, and unite our own prayers
with Our Lady’s, for all the sick, and to help us to choose life, to carry the
cross, to follow Jesus, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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