18th February, Thursday.
I. Deut. 30: 15-20
II. Lk 9: 22-25
Theme: Deny Yourself and Follow me
As we listen to the Lenten scripture readings, we must keep in mind that the church is interested not so much in the original meaning and context of the passages, but how we apply them to our lives. These readings become in this way an opportunity for the church to instruct us each day about certain attitudes of heart and the way to practice virtues. In the first reading Moses places a definitive choice before his people as they are about to enter the promised land: choose life or death, good or evil, blessing or curse. But how does it happen that in real life the positive happens so often? People bring disaster upon themselves making a wrong choice, as the people of Israel were to do in later times. Negative choices undoubtedly lead to negative consequence as we can see right through history. But unfortunately, wrong choice continues: far too often people opt for war rather than peace, injustice rather than fairness, discord rather than harmony. Positive choices of course may mean making sacrifices. In the gospel reading Jesus is telling to his disciples that he will have to endure many sufferings and he will go to his death. Jesus is telling us that those who want to be his disciples should also be prepared, if necessary, even to accept such suffering and death, for his sake. And this is what is meant by denying oneself, which consists not just giving up all thought of one’s own self, or making up some sacrifices or giving up some particular interest or possession. But one has to make a right choice in one’s life, through his or her thought and actions. We should turn ourselves from evil ways to good.
Bro. Prakash Horo SMM
II BTh