Short Reflection
Yesterday on Ash Wednesday, we received the ashes as a reminder: “Repent and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Today, the Word of God places a clear choice before us—life or death, blessing or curse, self or Christ.
Moses urges the people (and us) to choose life by loving God and clinging to Him. It’s not a one-time decision; it’s daily. Jesus immediately shows what that choice looks like: denying ourselves, taking up our cross every day, and following Him—even when it means suffering or letting go of what the world values most.
Lent isn’t about earning God’s love (we already have it). It’s about letting go of the things that keep us from fully living in it. What “life” are we tempted to save or cling to—comfort, pride, habits, grudges, or distractions—that might actually cause us to lose our true self? Jesus invites us to lose our life for His sake so we can truly find it.
The cross isn’t punishment; it’s the path to resurrection. Day by day, small acts of self-denial (fasting from food, words, or scrolling; giving time in prayer or charity) train our hearts to choose Him over everything else.
Prayer for Day 2: 40 days of Lent
Lord Jesus,
You set before me life and death, blessing and curse.
Help me to choose life today—by choosing You.
Give me the courage to deny myself in small ways,
to pick up whatever cross this day brings,
and to follow You more closely.
May I lose my life for Your sake,
so that I may save it eternally in You.
Strengthen me in this Lenten journey.
Amen.
Mary, Mother of Sorrows, pray for us as we walk with your Son.
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