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Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Daily Mass Readings for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday

  • First ReadingDeuteronomy 30:15-20: Moses sets before the people a choice: life through obedience to God’s commandments or death by turning away. He urges choosing life, promising prosperity in the promised land for them and their descendants.
  • Responsorial PsalmPsalm 1: Blessed are those who delight in God’s law, avoiding the ways of the wicked. They are steadfast and fruitful, protected by the Lord, unlike the wicked who falter.
  • Gospel Luke 9:22-25: Jesus foretold his suffering, death, and resurrection, setting the stage for a profound teaching on discipleship. He called for self-denial and daily commitment from anyone wishing to follow him, emphasizing that true life is found not in self-preservation but in self-sacrifice for his sake. He questioned the value of worldly gain at the cost of one’s soul, challenging followers to consider the eternal weight of their choices.

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?

Luke 9:25

Themes for the Readings for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday

The Thursday after Ash Wednesday, through its readings from Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Luke 9:22-25, presents themes central to the Lenten journey and Christian discipleship. Here are the key themes:

  • Choice and Commitment: Moses’ address in Deuteronomy presents a clear choice between life and death, blessings and curses, predicated on obedience to God’s commandments. This theme of choice emphasizes the importance of deliberate commitment to God’s ways.
  • Life through Obedience: The first reading ties the concept of life not just to a biological existence but to a life enriched by following God’s laws. It suggests that true prosperity and wellbeing are found in obedience to God.
  • Suffering and Resurrection: The Gospel reading introduces the prediction of Jesus’ own suffering, death, and resurrection. This theme is central to the Christian faith, highlighting the paschal mystery and the hope it brings.
  • Discipleship and Self-Denial: Jesus’ call to deny oneself, take up one’s cross daily, and follow him defines the essence of discipleship. This self-denial is portrayed as a path to true life, contrasting worldly values with spiritual fulfillment.
  • The Value of the Soul: The rhetorical question posed by Jesus about gaining the world but losing oneself (or one’s soul) prompts reflection on the eternal significance of one’s choices and the primacy of spiritual over material gain.
  • Eternal Perspective: Both readings encourage a perspective that transcends the immediate or temporal, urging believers to focus on eternal life and the lasting consequences of their decisions.
  • The Journey of Lent: These themes collectively resonate with the Lenten call to repentance, reflection, and renewal. The Lenten journey is marked by a deeper consideration of one’s life choices in light of God’s commandments and the call to follow Christ.

These themes for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday offer a rich tapestry for reflection as the faithful embark on the Lenten journey, inviting a deeper exploration of one’s relationship with God and commitment to living a life of faith and discipleship.

Thoughts for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday

As we enter into the solemnity of Lent, the readings for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday draw us into a profound reflection on choice, discipleship, and the true meaning of life. Through the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Jesus in Luke 9:22-25, we are invited to contemplate the foundational choices that define our journey with God and our path as followers of Christ.

Moses stands before the people, presenting a stark choice between life and death, blessings and curses. This choice is not merely about physical survival but encompasses the fullness of life that comes from walking in obedience to God’s commandments. Here, Moses underscores a truth that resonates throughout scripture: our decisions have eternal significance. Choosing life means embracing God’s ways, which leads to prosperity and blessing, not just for oneself but for generations to come. It is a call to a covenant relationship, grounded in love and fidelity to the Lord, who is the source of all life.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus deepens this reflection by introducing the cost of discipleship. He foretells his own suffering, death, and resurrection, setting the stage for a radical teaching on following him. Jesus calls for self-denial and a daily commitment to take up one’s cross. This is not a call to a life of despair but to a life of profound purpose and eternal significance. In a world that often measures success by material gain and personal comfort, Jesus poses a challenging question: “What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?” This rhetorical question invites us to consider the value of our souls and the fleeting nature of worldly achievements.

The Lenten season is a time for self-examination and repentance, a period to reflect on our own choices and the direction of our lives. Are we choosing the path of life, walking in obedience to God’s commandments, and embracing the call to discipleship? Or are we seduced by the allure of material gain and the illusion of self-preservation at the cost of our souls?

These readings call us to embrace the Lenten journey as an opportunity for renewal. By denying ourselves, taking up our crosses daily, and following Jesus, we find our true selves and the life that is truly life. This path is not easy, and it is marked by suffering and sacrifice. Yet, it is also the path to resurrection, joy, and eternal life with God. As we journey through Lent, let us choose life by living in obedience to God and committing ourselves to the way of Jesus, finding in this choice the true prosperity and blessing promised to us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we journey through Lent, grant us the courage to choose life by following Your commandments and embracing the cross of Christ. May our hearts be transformed, leading us to true life in You. Amen.

Homilies and Reflections
for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Word on Fire: Embracing the Cross

Bishop Robert Barron elucidates the essence of Christian discipleship in the Gospel for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday. Discipleship is not about stoic acceptance of suffering but an active engagement in carrying our crosses, akin to Jesus bearing the world’s sins. It’s a call to proactively seek ways to alleviate others’ burdens, inspired by Jesus’ ultimate act of love. This path mirrors Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s insight that following Jesus means embracing a life of sacrificial love, symbolized by the journey towards Calvary, where the narrative of Christian life both starts and culminates with Christ’s crucifixion.

USCCB Reflection: Choosing Life

The USCCB reflection for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday highlights the contrast between living according to the flesh and living by the Spirit. It emphasizes that true freedom and joy are found in setting our minds on spiritual things and doing God’s will, even when it involves suffering, as Jesus showed through his death and resurrection. Choosing life, as God commands, leads to eternal peace and fulfillment, liberating us from sin’s power and aligning us with our true purpose in God’s plan.

Frequently Asked Questions
for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday

What date is the Thursday after Ash Wednesday?

The next date is Thursday March 6, 2025.

What are the Mass readings for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday?

The Mass readings for Thursday March 6, 2025 are:
First Reading  – Deuteronomy 30:15-20: Choice of Life or Death
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 1: Blessed by Trust in God
Gospel – Luke 9:22-25: The Cost of Discipleship

What is the significance of the readings for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday?

The readings for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday highlight the themes of choice, discipleship, and the value of eternal life over worldly gain. They call believers to reflect on their lives and commit to following God’s commandments and Jesus’ example of self-sacrifice.

How does the first reading for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday relate to the season of Lent?

The first reading from Deuteronomy emphasizes the choice between life and death, urging believers to choose life by obeying God’s commandments. This message resonates with Lent’s call for repentance, reflection, and renewal, encouraging a deeper relationship with God.

What does Jesus mean by taking up one’s cross daily in the Gospel reading for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday?

Taking up one’s cross daily refers to the willingness to face hardships, sacrifices, and suffering for the sake of following Jesus. It signifies a daily commitment to living out the values of the Gospel, even when it challenges personal desires or societal norms.

Can you explain the choice Moses presents in the first reading for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday?

Moses presents a choice between life and death, blessings and curses, based on obedience to God’s commandments. Choosing life means committing to a relationship with God that is marked by faithfulness, leading to prosperity and blessing.

What lesson can we learn from the Gospel reading for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday about material wealth?

The Gospel teaches that material wealth and worldly gains are insignificant compared to the value of one’s soul. True life and fulfillment come not from accumulating possessions but from following Jesus and prioritizing spiritual wealth.

How do the readings for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday encourage spiritual reflection during Lent?

The readings emphasize the importance of choice, the cost of discipleship, and the eternal perspective on life and death. They invite believers to reflect on their spiritual journey, encouraging repentance, commitment to God, and the pursuit of a deeper faith.

What is the promise associated with choosing life in the Deuteronomy reading for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday?

The promise associated with choosing life is prosperity in the promised land for oneself and descendants. It signifies God’s blessing and favor upon those who obey His commandments and live according to His will.

How does the theme of self-denial in the Gospel for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday apply to our daily lives?

Self-denial involves sacrificing personal desires and comforts for the sake of following Jesus. It applies to our daily lives by encouraging us to live selflessly, prioritize others’ needs, and embrace spiritual values over worldly ambitions.

Why is the Thursday after Ash Wednesday important for Christians observing Lent?

This day is important because it sets the tone for Lent by focusing on the themes of repentance, sacrifice, and the choices that lead to spiritual growth. It challenges believers to deepen their commitment to Christ and live out their faith more fully.

What action can Christians take during Lent in response to the readings for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday?

Christians can engage in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, reflecting on their life choices and relationship with God. They can also seek to embody the message of the readings by practicing self-denial, serving others, and deepening their commitment to follow Jesus.

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