Today is the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. It is the last Sunday before Lent begins.
Today’s first reading says “If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you”. It goes on to elaborate on our choosing well.
A couple of weeks ago I taught bout sin in our OCIA class. One thing I told the group is that whatever we choose God will give us. If we choose holiness and grace, we can receive it. If we choose destruction God will allow that too. As Deacon Dave used to say God is always a gentleman. He doesn’t force Himself on us. We know what God wants for us but we have free will and we get to choose for ourselves. Fr. Mike Schmitz has one of the best lines about this when he said we sometimes say to God “I know what you want, God, but I want what I want”.
As we get ready to begin Lent it’s a good time to remember to choose wisely. We have a lot of things we can choose, or not, during Lent. We can choose to devote ourselves in prayer; we can choose to fast in a meaningful way so as to grow closer to Christ; and we can choose to care for others in a tangible and meaningful way. Those are the pillars of Lent; prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Let’s not get too hung up on what we’re giving up for Lent. That’s probably the least important aspect of living Lent, though not unimportant. Let’s think about the choices we make and try to focus on growing closer to Christ. If you have a significant sin in your life by all means deal with that. Choose to turn away from it. I would guess that most of us don’t have some big sin we need to deal with. Some smallish venial sins, yes, but likely not a big one.
I know many of us think about food when choosing something to give up for Lent, and that’s OK, but you can choose something else. In a great thought Pope Leo XIV suggests that we give up hurtful words and language. Here’s a link to his comments: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-02/pope-leo-xiv-lent-2026-message-disarm-words-embrace-peace.html
There are lots of possibilities so think about it and choose well for yourself.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.
I hope you have a great week.
Peace, Bob
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