The Choice
“I do choose.”
Luke 5:13
The power of choice. It has been described by some as one of the defining features of modernity. We see this especially in the massive number of consumer choices we have in every product category. In the ancient world, typically only those in power had the ability to choose widely. Rulers had a multitude of choices. Jesus had the power to choose to do whatever he wanted (so long as it was consistent with His character). His miracles show us that He had power over the natural world.
Luke recounts an episode with a leper who recognized Jesus’s divine power. Luke tells us that when the leper “saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord if you choose, you can make me clean.’” (Luke 5:12-13) The leper realized something profound. The issue was not whether Jesus was capable of healing (spoiler alert: Jesus does heal the man), but rather, would Jesus heal. In other words, it came down to choice.
The Bible tells us that all authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to Jesus (Matthew 28:18). He has the power to fix the brokenness of our world. What’s more, He has chosen to do so — and the work of redemption has already begun!
Today, we are faced with a multitude of choices. We can choose to do what is right or what is wrong. We can choose to be selfless or choose to serve our own interests. We can choose to be gentle or choose to be harsh. We can choose to be humble or choose to be proud. Realizing this, let us ask the Lord to help us choose to do what is right.
Toward the end of the Post-Communion Prayer in our Holy Eucharist service, we conclude by asking for the Lord’s assistance in doing “good works” (or making good choices). Perhaps we should begin our day today by praying these beautiful words from our Book of Common Prayer:
And we humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen. (“The Book of Common Prayer,” p. 339)
