“The themes of early Lent are pretty basic. The ashes of Ash Wednesday announce the simple truth that we are going to die, and thereafter we will face judgment. Hence we need to repent and come to believe the good news the Jesus (alone) can save us.
“The reading for Thursday after Ash Wednesday features Moses laying out the basic reality that we all have a choice to make. He says to us:
“Today I have set before you
life and prosperity, death and doom…
“I call heaven and earth today to witness against you:
I have set before you life and death,
the blessing and the curse. (Dt 30:15, 20)
“So there it is, our choice, life or death, prosperity or doom. An old Latin expression says, Tertium non datur (no third way is given). We often like to think we can plow some middle path. But in the matter of the last things, there is no middle path, no third way. Either we choose God and his kingdom, and then back-load that decision into all of our smaller decisions, or we do not.”
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the choices each us have before us – choices for the Kingdom of Light or for the kingdom of darkness. And a choice must be made – even if by default.
To access Msgr. Pope’s complete post, please visit:
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