Like it or not we are always making choices and our choices are taking us somewhere. It is estimated that the average adult makes in upwards of 35,000 remotely conscious choices every day. These choices all have consequences. They lead us to where we end up, whether we are aware of it or not. In the first reading we hear about how the choices of God’s people slowly turned them away from God. Although he tried to turn them back by sending them messengers and prophets, they chose not to listen to them. Instead they “added infidelity to infidelity” which eventually led to their enemies burning down the temple and dragging them away into captivity in Babylon. Our choices can lead us, little by little, away from God and into “captivity” to many earthly powers such as greed, envy, drugs, alcohol, gambling, over eating, shopping, sexual pleasure, etc. All these leave us empty and despairing.
Thankfully, God is always steadfast in his choice never to abandon us. Just as through king Cyrus, he called ancient Israel out of captivity and back to Jerusalem, God calls us back to His light of truth and mercy to begin anew building the temple of His love. However, as Jesus points out in the Gospel we have to choose the light over the darkness. That’s the opportunity of our Lenten journey. In order to choose the grace of God’s love, first we need to choose to become aware of where our choices have brought us to. Can all my works “be clearly seen as done in God” or would I prefer that’s some of my “works might not be exposed”.
We all have a mix of good and bad, darkness and light in our choices. No matter how far astray our choices have led us, God’s mercy calls us back. As our Lenten reflection makes us aware of the darkness and despair that some of our choice have led us to, God begs us to make the critical choice to put our faith in His Saving Grace. The second reading clearly tells us that “by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God.” Knowing that we cannot save ourselves from darkness and sin, Jesus came and died to take them away. Because of this saving gift of love we don’t have to remain in the emptiness and despair of sin. We can choose to accept His gift, turn away from our sinful choices and begin again living in the Grace of Jesus Christ which will bring us to true Easter Joy or to continue in darkness and dispair. But make no mistake, We Have to Choose.
