6 March, Thursday — Choosing the right path

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Deu 30:15-20
Lk 9:22-25

“… let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me…”

Growing up, my grand-aunt, whom I was living with, often promised me little treats if I behaved, or did what she wanted me to. I looked forward to doing well, often because of these rewards. When I became a parent, I relied on the same strategy, enticing my children with gifts and promises of holidays.

I wonder if this was what Moses was doing in today’s first reading. He talks about the benefits the Israelites would gain from keeping faith in our God, and stresses the punishments and withdrawal of God’s love and loyalty in the event of their disloyalty. 

I had been mulling over Moses’ message; was this not a form of ‘Prosperity Gospel’? If you follow God faithfully, He will reward you with all the success and blessings, and it will follow that if one is less than faithful, you will suffer the consequence of the withdrawal of all these. If one follows this argument, does it mean that one seen as wealthier and enjoying a more prosperous life is more faithful than the ‘common man’? Surely, that cannot be the case?

Our Lord Jesus showed us the way with the Gospel of today. He talks about sacrifice — about renouncing oneself and following Him on His path. With that one statement, Jesus teaches us that our focus should not be all about achieving earthly rewards and success, redirecting our thoughts from Moses’ earlier teaching in Deuteronomy.

As we continue to live our lives in this secular world, may we continue to remind ourselves to stay connected with our Lord daily through personal time for prayer, reflection and always choosing to walk in His ways.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Paul Wee)

Prayer: May we be guided by our love and devotion to You, O God. Help us to do so, not because we want to claim successes by ‘behaving well’, but because we model our behaviour on Jesus. 

Thanksgiving: We are grateful, dear Lord Jesus, that You show us the way to eternal life. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to guide us along the right path.