The Cross, the Choice, and the Call to Follow

The Cross, the Choice, and the Call to Follow It sounds so deceptively simple. I place before you life or death and you get to choose. I place before you, the blessing and the curse, and you can take your pick. And when you put it that directly and that bluntly, it seems like this is just the ultimate no-brainer. Well, of course, I am taking life all day long and yet hidden with that simple pairing of opposites is a sobering reality. The Homily centers on the powerful and deceptively simple biblical invitation: “Choose life or death.” While it seems like an obvious choice, however, many don’t truly understand what choosing life entails. It’s not about chasing dreams or material comfort, but about choosing God and living according to His will. Moses, standing before the Israelites on the threshold of the Promised Land, urges them to remember that true life comes from obedience to God, not merely from achieving external goals. Choice and the Connection With Lent This message is deeply connected to the purpose of Lent, which is not valuable on its own but serves as a preparation for Easter. The season invites believers into self-denial, reflection, and a deeper commitment to follow Christ daily—not just in words or superficial gestures, but through intentional, ongoing decisions to walk in God’s ways. The Gospel call to take up one’s cross daily is emphasized as the core spiritual discipline of Lent. Ultimately, choosing life is choosing Christ, and this choice must be reaffirmed in daily actions and decisions—not someday, but today. Listen to this Meditation Media. Listen to: The Cross, the Choice, and the Call to Follow ------------------------------------------ Image: Christ Carrying His Cross: Italian Painter: El Greco: 1580 The painting resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY. ------------------------------------------ Gospel Reading: Luke 9: 22-25 First Reading: Deuteronomy 30: 15-20