Lent – Thursday after Ash Wednesday – Deut 30:15-20; Psalm 1:1-4,6; Luke 9:22-25

What comforts me? In this in the present tense: “I set before you life or death, blessing or curse.” It means that I still have a chance, that my life is not a slippery slope. It rolls on a bit too fast; the days and years are already behind me, I can’t take them back. But what I chose yesterday does not invalidate my choices today.

What brings me relief? It is the rhetorical question: “What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self?” Because I don’t have to be afraid and frantically look for success. Because I know that sometimes it’s not worth gaining, accumulating, being on the rising tide, proving your point.

What is beautiful? I can turn back. If I’m going the wrong way, if I’ve strayed from the path, I can really turn back.

How I respond to the word:
I will do one specific thing without the usual complaining and obvious sighs, without procrastination. I will see how my cross-bearing affects others.