Some of my favorite scenes in stories and movies are when the protagonist stands at a threshold with an important choice to make: Neo, from “The Matrix” choosing the red pill or the blue pill; Bilbo the Hobbit, literally standing at the threshold of his safe, comfortable home, choosing whether or not he will go on the adventure of a lifetime.
Certainly, a threshold moment in my life, was the day, as a young college student, I chose to visit the seminary for the first time.We all have threshold moments –times when we are invited to move from one way of living to another. These moments are challenging; change and venturing into the unknown are never easy. So we often pause on the threshold itself, to reflect on what we want out of life, on who we are, one where we want to go, on the principles we must follow if we want to truly live.
Moses, in the first reading, has led the Israelites to the threshold of the promised land. And they have a choice to make, as they enter this new land, will they return to the comfortable life of sin, or will they embark on the new way of fidelity. Fidelity will be difficult. They will have to resist being led estray by the attractive paganism of the land’s current inhabitants. They will have to resist their strange gods, their voluptuous women. They will have to struggle to keep the commandments, statues, and decrees of God.
One way leads to life and prosperity, one to death and doom: “choose life”, Moses says, “heeding the voice of the Lord.”
On this threshold of Lent, we are given a choice, as well. Will we return to the comfortable, or will we embark on a journey which will change us, and convert us.
The Lord invites us to follow him into the desert, to fast and to pray with him, to learn how to surrender ourselves to God like Him, he invites us to deny ourselves and follow Him.
It is a great paradox, but true nonetheless, that the way of the cross is the way that leads to life.
Freely and wholeheartedly, may we embrace our Lenten observances of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, that the life of Christ may well up, spring up in us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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For the whole Christian people, that in this sacred Lenten season, they may be more abundantly nourished by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
For the whole world, that in lasting tranquility and peace our days may truly become the acceptable time of grace and salvation.
For sinners and those who neglect right religion, that in this time of reconciliation they may return wholeheartedly to Christ.
For ourselves, that God may at last stir up in our hearts aversion for our sins and conviction for the Gospel.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy.
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