THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

Deuteronomy 30:15-20/Ps. 1:1-2,3,4-6/Luke 9:22-25

In today’s first reading, Moses gives the people a clear and urgent invitation: “Choose life.” And he explains what that means — love the Lord your God, walk in His ways. To choose life is to choose love: love of God and love of those whom God loves.

But how do we know if we are choosing life? A simple question can guide us:
What is the most loving thing I can do right now?

In moments of tension, choosing life may mean forgiveness instead of resentment. In family life, it may mean patience instead of anger. In ministry, it may mean serving generously even when we feel tired or unappreciated. Choosing love is often quiet and hidden — but it is always life-giving.

In the Gospel, Jesus deepens this teaching:
“Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

At first glance, this seems to contradict Moses. But in reality, Jesus reveals the inner meaning of choosing life. Choosing life, according to Jesus, often means losing life — losing our pride, our selfishness, our need to win, letting go of comfort to help someone in need. It means dying to ourselves out of love. This “losing” feels like diminishment; yet in God’s economy, it is enlargement. we see this most clearly in Jesus himself.

Jesus himself chose love – consistently, radically, without reserve. He loved the sinner, the leper, the outsider, the one who would later betray him, and that choice led him to the Cross. He lost his life — yet in that self-giving love, he found true life, and God raised him up. The Cross reveals that love is not sentimental; it is self – emptying. It is kenosis – the pouring out of oneself.

Choice in itself is not enough. Its value depends on what we choose. What matters is what we choose. Freedom finds its fulfillment not in having options, but in choosing what leads to life. Every day, in small and great ways, we are choosing — even not to choose is a choice. The real question which remains before each one of us, in our everyday circumstance is.

What am I choosing? Are we choosing love?

Because whenever we choose love – especially when it costs us — we are choosing life.