A YOUNG PILGRIM OF HOPE, WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

Today l want to dwell on the Readings of 2025 Lent Day 2 (Deut 30:15-20; Ps 1:1-4, 40:5b; Matt 4:17; Lk 9:22-25)

While growing up, there were times when siblings, parents or colleagues asked for a help, favour, company and all those lil hangs we know. Oh yes, everybody want a chill, and sometimes to be of good use, but before jumping into the mission, there is always that question expressed within or loud, 'What's in it for me' We all have some expectations, everybody is looking for some benefits somewhere somehow, who doesn't want some returns? Going or not, doing or not - just like the coin has 2 sides, each motion you flow has an outcome. Every move, every act has something for you. 

There was a good movie 'The Choice' l once watched, if not twice or thrice. And if l remember correctly, there are some beautiful lines l mindfully clipped at the back of my head. I think now is the right time to paste them for my story to you, especially the young:

"The whole damn thing is about decisions and every path you take leads to another choice, And some choices can change everything. Every damn moment of the rest of your life hangs on them.....Got to think that life is held up together by choices, one after the other......" Well, let me stop here for now.

Personally, l would like to completely agree that l have had many choices and even now, l still do, and forever l will - because life is about choices. Of all those many l have made, trust me - l had it all. I have made pretty good choices and l had bad ones too. Do you remember the time you made a good shot? And from that move, really the score really made a count that changed the course of your life. Probably till this day you are still grateful that you made a good choice. Sometimes you smile because you know those to come after you will be safe- only because of that one time choice you made. Cheers to that!

I don't want to dwell on the opposite side, sarudzo dzako dzehupenyu ndiwe unodziziva (you know the choices you made). It doesn't end there neither will it, till the day we depart to another life. Making choices is constant. Probably right now you are in a dilemma, you are struggling for a best shot: Should l do this or not, go to A'level or College, should l go for Engineering or Commerce, Social Sciences or Engineering, Take the job offer or not, Advance my Studies or not, Propose now or later, Say Yes or No...Which is Which, A or B, 1 or 10....the list can go far 😄😄

Somebody once asked: If God knew there will be consequences, why did he allowed it in the first place? No, He didn't but we did. One of the greatest thing He did was to give us freedom. Yoo, imagine living inside a box - a life where freedom is denied. We can easily relate, right? Around the world we are all advocating for freedom and justice....(story for another day). We were given conscience - to know good and wrong. It's always two sided, l mean everything that exists and shape our physical or spiritual well being. 

Let's go back to the first Reading from Deut 30:15-20:

Just like in our days, in that moment where you are to make the best decision(s) about your life; let us remember some encountered this too.

Prior to entering the Promised Land, the Israelites were given adequate room to choose for themselves and their choice was to set the tone for the rest of their lives. Like l said, it's always a coin with two faces: Life - Death; Blessing - Curse/Evil:::Instructions were clearly stated, for each choice made.

For Life and Blessings:

*Obey the commandments (loving Lord your God, walking in His ways, keeping His Commandments and Ordinances)

What's in it for them who chose this face? Clearly it's said, " You shall live and multiply, and God will bless you in the land which you are entering to take possession (see, it's not just entering, but taking possession as well, God is Good kani).

Let's not end here, from Responsorial Psalm, " Blessed is the man who has placed his trust in the Lord. He is like a tree that is planted besides the flowing water - that yields it's fruit in due season. And whose leaves shall never fade and all that he does shall prosper" 

And the Gospel reading completes it all. There is something in it for those who choose to take up their daily croses and follow Jesus.

Amidst all this, in this 2025 Lent Season - What's in it for me and you?

With so much conviction grounded in faith, trust and hope, l can tell you that more is in store for us. I've come to a realization that we are currently in a unique/special time especially for us young people; it's not coincidence that we are in the 2025 Jubilee Year (Young Pilgrims of Hope) + now in the Lent Season. For me as an faith-based Environmentalist (2025 marks the 10th Anniversary of Pope Francis' Encyclicals Laudato Si' - a landmark which has significantly trnasformed my work with CYNESA including many areas of my life). Let's not take this for granted.

God's love is unconditional, His mercy endures forever. I don't know how many times you have made some bad choices in your life, and maybe to this day you are still living in fear, regret, maybe you are stuck. Probably you are at a time of decision-making. Glory be to God, for He has given us an opportunity amidst those personal and global calamities of our present time: Now is the time to invite Jesus to walk with us through the desert. A time to retreat, restart, refocus, a time to experience God in a unique way. Yes we can't rub what has already done, and it is not possible with man, but with God something good can come out of it. A time to choose to let go of things/habits/ choices that doesn't nourish our souls, making enough room for abundance life rooted in Christ. By God's Grace, a purposeful and peaceful life is possible.

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