Choices

Readings for Thursday October 22, 2009

First Reading: Romans 6:19-23
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1
Gospel: Luke 12:49-53


Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” (Lk 12:51-53)

Today you will make many choices (kind of sounds like a fortune cookie, huh?). What to wear, what to have for lunch, what to work on for the day, etc. Every day we are bombarded with choices to make, some big, some small. But of all the choices that we make in this life, none are more important than the one to follow Jesus Christ. This choice determines our future, where we will spend eternal life. This is not an easy choice to make either, because it requires a lot of sacrifice and surrender. It requires dying to your old ways, so that Christ can raise you up to the life you are called to. It will require many divisions in your life, it will even put you at odds with some of the people closest to you. This choice is one that we all must choose, and while choosing Christ may not be the easiest choice, it is certainly the one with the greatest reward.

Today, let us remember and reflect on the words of Saint Paul: "But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit that you have leads to sanctification, and its end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 6:22-23)

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you for your great love and mercy, give us the strength and will to choose you every minute of every day. Lord, form our hearts to you, so that we can go out and be the good faithful servants that we are meant to be. We pray for all marriages and families out there. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.