Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Readings of the Day

In today’s readings, Moses tells us: “Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom.” In the Gospel, Jesus sets before us “great suffering and rejection.” Welcome to Lent!

For some, when Lent is done well, it can certainly be a time of meaningful growth while reflecting on the difficulties of Jesus’ earthly life. Lent is also a time of self-reflection, a time of sacrifice, a time of prayer. But, as Jesus goes on to tell us in today’s reading, we are to take up our cross daily and follow him.  He is calling us to action.  He doesn’t want us to only reflect, to only pray, to only be a good person.  He wants us to act.  Lent is a time of taking up one’s cross and doing something with it - daily.

Those of us who work in social ministry see the crosses our clients carry.  We see their suffering, their rejection, their being misunderstood.  Sometimes we become rejected by neighbors, friends, even family when we respond to Jesus’ call to action for His suffering, rejected and misunderstood children.  Following Jesus’ example of how to treat others along with the Church’s social teachings, we know what we are supposed to be doing.  We know what our cross is and we know what actions Jesus want us to take.  So, this Lent, with our hope, faith, and trust in Jesus, we can all take up our cross and do something with it - daily.

Chris Austgen is the Coordinator of Parish Social Ministry at Mary Queen Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.  She is also on the CCUSA Parish Social Ministry Leadership Team.

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