Thursday sfter Ash Wednesday

Readings

Moses gives the people two options: life or death. "Choose life," he says, "that you may live."
This is pretty black and white.
Then Jesus says, "choose the cross." The cross, which in his day had one meaning and one meaning only: death. Take up death each day.
Does Jesus contradict Moses?
Even when Moses said "choose life" he meant something more than everyday life. He was urging them to obey the commandments of God. But it's easy to observe that there are people who disregard and break the commandments of God -- maybe you know some of them -- and are still alive. Someone of them rather prosperous. Moses is not talking about mere biological life, but about the blessed life, long and happy, in the land God will give you.
Like Moses, Jesus is talking about life that is more than life. For the follower of Jesus, the word "life" has a new meaning: Jesus Christ. St. Paul saw this: "For me, life is Christ, and death is gain" (Phil 1:21). And St. John, too: "In him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4).
Our definition of what it means to live is different. If you want to know what it looks like to be alive, you must look on Christ. On Christ as He now is, risen in glory. The wounds we made are still there, but no longer painful. To know what it means to live, we look on Christ who has suffered, died, and risen. 
This suggests that the life of the disciple is not complete yet. There is more suffering to do, more dying, before the day of glory. Much more Lent fasting to do, before the Easter feast. 
Choose life, says Moses. And Jesus says the same. Choose to let the false self die. Let me show you who you really are.