Choice for Life
Readings: Deut 30:15-20; Ps 1; Lk
9:22-25
It is not by
any stroke of chance that Valentine’s Day is celebrated a day after Ash
Wednesday this year. It is providential rather than coincidental. Today is the
first test put before every Christian on the application of the gospel of Lent.
What does Christ want from us in the gospel? To take up our cross and follow
him. He is asking us to transcend the conventional sentiments that go with
today’s celebration; to remind the world what love is and love is not. Today
should be more of action than words. The gospel of today motivates us to include
orphanage, old people’s home, center for the disable and the beggars in the
streets as part of the items in our lovers’ day menu. Today Love should go beyond
reciprocity, i.e., loving those who love you, giving those who give. Today is a
day of radical love, i.e., loving the false friends and the true enemies. This
is what Christ means when He says “deny yourself”.
As Moses in
the 1st reading asked the people of Israel to choose between life
and death, today we are called upon to have a fundamental option. Remember our
choices today will be for us or against
us in the final analyses. Happy Valentine’s Day all. I love you!!!
