Maymay sa Magbalantay

“Just yesterday, we stood in line and received ashes on our foreheads. We heard the words: “Repent and believe in the Gospel,” or “Remember that you are dust.” It was a quiet, humbling moment.

And today, the Word of God continues that conversation—but now in a very personal way.

In the first reading from Deuteronomy, God says something very simple and very serious: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life.”

And in the Gospel, Jesus says something just as clear and just as demanding: “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Lent begins with ashes. But it cannot stay with ashes. Lent must lead us to a choice.

1. God respects our freedom

In Deuteronomy, God does not force His people. He does not threaten. He does not manipulate.

He lays everything on the table:

Life and death. Blessing and curse.

And then He says, “Choose.”

This is important. God respects our freedom. Love cannot be forced. Faith cannot be imposed. Conversion cannot be faked.

After Ash Wednesday, the question is no longer, “Did you receive ashes?”

The real question is: What will you choose now?

Every day of Lent, we are choosing—to pray or not to pray, to forgive or to hold grudges, to be honest or to cut corners, to follow Christ or to follow convenience.

2. Choosing life means choosing the cross

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks very honestly. He does not romanticize discipleship.

He says that following Him involves suffering, rejection, and the cross. And then He adds something very striking: “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

This sounds strange to the world. But deep in our hearts, we know it is true.

We lose ourselves when we live only for comfort, pleasure, and self-interest.

We lose ourselves when we protect our ego more than our conscience.

We lose ourselves when we refuse to love because love costs something.

The cross Jesus speaks of is not something we choose once a year.

He says, “Take up your cross daily.”

Daily patience.

Daily forgiveness.

Daily honesty.

Daily self-control.

Daily choosing what is right over what is easy.

That is how life is saved.

3. Lent is the Season of Decision

Brothers and sisters, Lent is not just a season of religious practices. It is a season of decision.

Moses says, “Choose life.”

Jesus says, “Follow me.”

Both are invitations, not threats.

This Lent, God is not asking us to be perfect. He is asking us to be honest. He is asking us to stop postponing conversion. He is asking us to choose Him again—today, not someday.

Maybe the cross we need to carry is reconciliation in the family.

Maybe it is saying no to a habit that is slowly destroying us.

Maybe it is choosing integrity when corruption is easier.

Maybe it is making time for prayer when life feels too busy.

Whatever it is, that cross is not meant to crush us.

It is meant to lead us to life.

Yesterday, ashes were placed on our foreheads. Today, the Word of God is placed in our hands.

Life or death.

Blessing or curse.

Self or Christ.

Lent is God’s gentle but urgent invitation.

May we have the courage to choose life. May we have the humility to carry our daily cross.

And may we discover, at the end of this Lenten journey, that losing our life for Christ was the way we truly found it.”