Please play the video after you read the reflection for your silent meditation with Jesus…
Good News Reflection
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
March 6, 2014
Today’s Saint: Colette
Pray for orphans
Today’s Readings:
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Psalm 1:1-4, 6
Luke 9:22-25
Today’s Inspirational Snippet: God keeps trying to help us avoid sin. But the choice is ours. “Choose life,” He pleads.
Partnership with Jesus
Meditatation from Terry A Modica, The Word Among US
A man and woman say, “I do” on their wedding day. A new president “solemnly swears” to uphold the nation’s constitution on Inauguration Day. A young woman vows to “never do harm” on the day she takes the Hippocratic Oath and becomes a doctor. All of these are pivotal moments in a person’s life, moments when an important choice is made and a new path opens up.
On our Lenten road to greater holiness, with Jesus as our companion on the path of self-denial, we pass by those who are taking a different road. Both roads lead to death. One takes us through death to new life. The other is the deadly path of the world; the companions are addiction, greed, anger, and disobedience.
As Moses said in today’s first reading, by loving God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him, we choose the path of life. Today’s Psalm points out that when we delight in the law of the Lord, we’re like a tree planted near running water – full of life, yielding good fruit, never withering; whatever we do in, through, and with the Lord always prospers.
Jesus says in the Gospel passage that on the life-giving journey of following him, we carry the cross of self-denial, i.e., we deny the desires that are contrary to God’s desires.
Giving in to stubborn sins or bad habits while putting off new, good habits is how we keep one foot on the wrong road. Even though we don’t believe that it’s destructive, it is destroying us. Sooner or later, we lose our balance and fall. In the first reading, God is pleading: “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life!”
Jesus longs to rescue us from our self-destructive curses. While he waits for us to humbly seek his help, he weeps for us, because he can see the damage that we’re causing with our lack of self-denial..
The pain we suffer as we watch our loved ones continue down the wrong road feels even worse if we try to help them but are unable to redirect them onto the right path. God, too, keeps trying to help us avoid sin. He keeps trying to hold our hand and lead us farther down the path of life. But the choice is ours. “Choose life,” he pleads.
But it’s just as true that our heavenly Father is with us day in and day out, offering us grace upon grace so that we can choose life every time.
Holiness is a decision to obey God no matter what. This is easier to do when we remember that Jesus is eager to give us his supernatural help. We can’t succeed by our own efforts; it’s a partnership. When we follow Jesus, we are journeying with him.
God wants to bless you. He wants to do everything he can to keep you on the path of life. That’s why he is so merciful and forgiving. So don’t give up. Choose Him everyday of your life!
I Choose Jesus
By Mary Lorelei Vicedo Aquino
I choose you My Lord
Over the pains and sacrifices of this life
I choose you my God
Over the easy road and complacent task
I choose you my Saviour
Over all the terrors of my soul
I choose you my King
Over all that obstructs me to get closer to you
I choose you my Protector
Over those that fears of the unknown
I choose you my Provider
Over all the wishes that are untold
I choose you my Rock and Fortress
Over all that shakes my faith
I choose you my Light
Over the darkness of the world
I choose you my Strength
Over all the weaknesses of my humanity
I choose you my Confidence
Over all the limitations and imperfections of life
I choose you my Jesus
Over everything and anything
For I believe and I accept
You have already made Your plans for me
I choose You my Lord and God
My Proctector and Provider
My Strenght and Fortress
My Spiritual Partner in this life and life after
I will always choose you and no one else
I am your humble servant my Lord,
May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
My one and Only God, I am yours and yours alone now and forever. Amen.
Prayer of the Soul
“Heavenly Father, thank you for your desire to bless me! I choose you today. I choose to receive the grace that comes from following you. Carry me and lead me our Lord together with everyone we are praying for, those who pray with us and each of your creation that needed most of your mercy We need you Jesus to keep our path straight and reach the kingdom of heaven. Oh Jesus we cling to you for all taht we need to survive this life and be with you in paradise. We surrender all that we hope for, long for, pray for. Let it be done according to your will. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary all the angels and saints. In the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior we pray. Amen. ”
Offering the most painful sacrifices to God is the sweetest gesture of love for him. Let us all carry our cross and smile back at Him and say I LOVE YOU JESUS
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