Choose life, not death were God’s Words to the Hebrews in the desert as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. The Word of God remained constant through all the ages of human generation and the choice still remains ours, each one of us.

No one chooses death freely: at death we decorate the body to appear, not only as life, but as the fulfillment of life. People have been seduced everywhere and often. Fortunately, many other people have chosen life and reaped the promises of God. Essentially, what is the life God desires us to have, to choose? It is to embrace our capacity for loving and not betray it regardless of how attractive and satisfying another choice is. To choose life is to choose to be a life giver. to choose life is to be for others; to choose death is to be for self. It’s more complex than these simple statements, but they are at the heart of this matter of choice.

Which brings us to the reality of our human condition. We, too, are paradoxes, if not contradictions, to one's self and to each other -- for we occasionally choose to do precisely what we said we wouldn’t do... and vice versa! The struggle for faithfulness to our choice (God) is the face of so many other voices (gods) clamoring for our attention and loyalty, each promising much, none giving us life, is a challenge. “Choose Life” remains our clarion call as daughters and sons of God. It is the central story of history, the struggles between good and evil, life and death, justice and power, healing and wounds, abundance and misery, peace and chaos (wars). It continues to our day. It nearly overwhelms the human spirit: what can I do?

The answer remains, choose life! It is the last line of defense and the first step in the many needed to stop death from victory! And death wins when injustice prevails and injustice reigns where love is lost. This, too, is a simple statement for a complex world. Still, it is at the root of the matter -- for every injustice is violence, and violence leads to death. Little wonder that the unending, larger expressions of violence bring fear and weaken morale (hope). We pray to God; God answers; choose life!

Violence breeds violence. The justification for violence guarantees its unending use. The world seems unable to alter this. Reverting to force, waging war, seeking control (domination) or destroying enemies are not the answer. It will take a change of heart and will: it will take the risk of loving, the need for forgiveness and reconciliation, in order to have the healing process restore life. It sounds impossible given our world and society. Maybe it is. For daughters and sons of God, I believe, God still expects our participation for what is said here of nations is also true for individuals. Until forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing take place, there can be no peace in hearts, minds and lives. This is the path to Easter joy and the fulfillment of the resurrection. Each one of us must choose.