On this first day of Lent after Ash Wednesday the Church restates in the readings very simply and matter-of-factly what the season is all about: the first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy restates first of all the crux of the "wounded decision-making ability" of mankind. While men and women always have had the freedom of choose the positive or the negative, since the day of the Fall they were more inclined to choose the negative rather than the positive – due to Satan's lure and subtle persuasion. Redemption means redemption from that powerful "tug-to-the-negative!" It means reestablishing the true freedom that allows a reasoned, faith-filled response.
The reading states it this way: God told Moses to tell the people: today I set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. You are free to choose either one. But if you follow my commandments, my suggestions on how to live a positive and well balanced life, then you will choose life and you will have prosperity. Reject death and doom, choose life: this is God's recommendation! He is hoping that we will do this so that he can fulfill the promises made to Abraham and his spiritual descendants (us): promises involving their eternal salvation!
But in an almost ironic kind of twist, the gospel passage tells us that the spiritually oriented disciple will choose what Jesus chose: suffering, rejection and even the cost of one's life: he will choose the cross: his own cross; and he will follow Jesus carrying his Cross, so that as Jesus found his new life by this means, so will those who follow Jesus this way. When you lose your life for Jesus' sake, then you will save it! This is different than just throwing away one's life: the real authentic, genuine spiritual motivation is always the acceptable qualification!
And so, on this day of Lent we are exhorted to repent, to turn from our own way of seeing and doing things and to acknowledge the arrival of the Kingdom in Jesus, with his way of seeing and doing things: which involves choosing death to oneself in order to choose life and prosperity that will last forever!
Today, if you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts!
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