Moment of decision

Message in a Minute for Feb 17:

A moment of decision.

Today’s readings seem to focus on the fundamental decision that faces each human person: for God or against God.  In Jeremiah, we hear that the person who trusts only in human beings is cursed, while the person who trusts in the Lord is blessed.  St. Paul is facing a similar dilemma with his congregation in Corinth: either Jesus was raised, or he was not.  In the gospel, Jesus lays out blessings and woes.  Blessings if we follow after him.  Woes if we choose ourselves.

The Christian life is a really a life lived in the tension of this decision: for God or against God.  Belief that Christ is truly God, truly raised.  Or disbelief in the message of the gospel.  Each and every one of us is faced with this decision: for God or against God.

Now, if I took a poll at the parish and simply asked: are you for God or against him.  Not many of our parishioners would choose the “I am against God” box in the survey.  Right? Most people would say: of course, I’m for God.  But this moment of decision is not a question that is answered with our thoughts or our words.  This is not even a question that we answer with our hearts.  This fundamental moment of decision is a question that must be answered with our very lives.

Several years ago, there was this popular theory in moral theology called the fundamental option.  This theory basically stated that each person is faced with the fundamental question of being in union with God or separated from him. This fundamental question is answered once and for all in a person’s heart.  The daily affairs of a person’s life cannot affect one’s fundamental option. St. John Paul II rejected this theory in his wonderful letter Veritatis Splendor.  In that letter, St. John Paul II said that we are indeed faced with this fundamental decision.  But this question is answered in the decisive moments of our daily existence.  We cannot pretend that our hearts are set on God if our lives and our actions are not set on God as well.  Therefore, the decisive moment is the daily moment, choosing God every day and in every moment and action.

So, let the question hit you again today: what will you choose?