Choose Life Not Death

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus presents us with a rather interesting paradox, one that at first glance may make to scratch your head and wonder which to choose.  Sisters and Brothers, salvation is free.  We can choose it or not.  This is why Jesus use the word “if.”  He did not command us to come after him.  He did not say to us, “now I have loved you with an everlasting love.  I command you now to love me in return!”  No he says to us, “if you want to be a follower of mine….”

Salvation has been freely given and it is up to each of us to decide whether we want to accept it or not.  If we choose to accept it, then Jesus makes it quite clear that it won’t be an easy life and that we will have to take up our crosses daily and follow him.  Here is the interesting paradox – if we choose not to accept it because it is too hard and we want to save our lives, then we will lose our lives in the process.

Have you ever noticed that the way to some of the most beautiful places on earth are normally very difficult to travel? Salvation is the same.  It is the most beautiful and most precious gift given to us, but it comes at a price.  As if to really drive the point home, Jesus issues the invitation after telling his disciples that he, the Son of Man, will suffer greatly and be rejected, and will be killed, but he will rise again.  Jesus was not about giving false hopes.  He painted the picture as it was.  He laid all the cards on the table with the option to choose.

The first reading tells us that there are consequences for our actions.  Every act we perform, every decision we make has consequences that will either bring life or death.  The choice is ours. As we continue through this Lenten season, let us remember that every one of us are on a journey, and according to God’s will for all of us, the final destination for all of us is meant to be in Heaven.  That is the desire in our Heavenly Father’s for us all.

“I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.”  Give us the grace today and every day that we live to choose life in all that we do, not out of fear but out of love for you Lord.