A Matter of Choice

June 21: Saturday of Week 11 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

2Chronicles 24:17-25; Psalm 89:4-5, 29-30, 31-32, 33-34; Matthew 6:24-34

A thought for those who want to reveal the risen Jesus in their lifestyle.

“No one can serve two masters.” Matthew 6:24

Authentic Christianity involves—and requires—a very simple choice: do we live by Jesus’ New Law or by the attitudes and values of our culture?

Saint Paul says it like it is: “You are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience [to Christ], which leads to righteousness” (Romans 6:16). We can choose our master, but we can’t choose whether to have one. Even the “personalists” who glory in non-conformity are slaves to their own passions and blindness. Only Jesus can promise, “If you live by my words, ‘you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free’” (John 8:32).

Obeying Jesus means accepting his teaching about what we should worry about and work for. This includes the fundamentals: our life; what we will eat, drink or wear; how long we will live; and what might happen to us next. “Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.” That is, God will take care of it: “Your heavenly Father knows what you need.”

We bear witness to the Good News when we obviously really believe God will provide for our needs, are clearly placing our trust in him, and visibly loving and caring for others in a way that shows we are not worried about what will happen to ourselves.

PRAY: “Jesus, make me free.”

PRACTICE: Make every decision a conscious choice for Christ.