At first glance, you might think our first reading from Deuteronomy and our gospel reading from Luke are pulling us in different directions. Deuteronomy tells us to choose life, while in Luke's gospel, we are told that we must lose our life to follow Jesus. However, both of them are inviting us to ask what kind of life we wish to choose. To live a life that draws us deeper into our relationship with God, we have to discern if there are attachments in our life that are getting in the way.

The season of Lent is a time for us to repent. Repentance doesn’t necessarily mean that we feel bad—though negative feelings may be a starting point for realizing we need to repent. Rather, it means that an internal change takes place that leads us to move in a new direction in our external life. The practices often associated with Lent are an invitation to reflect on what areas of life may be preventing us from fully embracing the life God desires for us.

When we fast, we give up those things that have become barriers between us and God. Maybe we feel a stronger pull towards things that aren't necessarily good for us than we do toward God. Fasting is our way of sacrificing something to focus our eyes more on God and God’s desires for us.

When we give alms, we move outside of ourselves. We are made to be in community and care for others, yet selfishness can take over. When we choose to give from our excess, we become more aware of those around us and their needs. We may experience a deeper empathy for their situations. We may even experience seeing them as God sees them.

As we choose to pray more, we grow in our relationship with God. As in any relationship, the more time we spend with someone, the better we come to know the other. Perhaps when we first encounter someone, we immediately develop an impression of them, but over time as we learn about their life, our impression changes. It is no different with prayer. The more time we spend with God, the more unhelpful images drop, and we come to know the God who is Love. Further, we come to know what is important to God, and we desire to live as co-creators who bring that vision to life.

Lent is a time set aside to focus on how we’re supposed to live all year long. It’s an invitation to let go of that in our life that keeps us from God and choose a life rooted in Jesus. As we begin this season of Lent, what in your life might you need to let go of so that you can be freer to choose the life God desires for you? 

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