Daily Readings - Thu Mar 07 2019
Deuteronomy
15Consider what I have set forth in your sight this day, life and good, or, on the opposite side, death and evil16so that you may love the Lord your God, and walk in his ways, and keep his commandments and ceremonies and judgments, and so that you may live, and he may multiply you and bless you in the land, which you shall enter in order to possess17But if your heart will have been turned aside, so that you are not willing to listen, and, having been deceived by error, you adore strange gods and serve them18then I predict to you this day that you will perish, and you will remain for only a short time in the land, for which you shall cross the Jordan, and which you shall enter in order to possess19I call heaven and earth as witnesses this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your offspring may live20and so that you may love the Lord your God, and obey his voice, and cling to him, (for he is your life and the length of your days) and so that you may live in the land, about which the Lord swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that he would give it to them.
Luke
22saying, "For the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the leaders of the priests and the scribes, and be killed, and on the third day rise again.23Then he said to everyone: "If anyone is willing to come after me: let him deny himself, and take up his cross every day, and follow me24For whoever will have saved his life, will lose it. Yet whoever will have lost his life for my sake, will save it25For how does it benefit a man, if he were to gain the whole world, yet lose himself, or cause himself harm
Sermon
In today's readings, we are presented with profound choices that shape our spiritual journey. The first reading from Deuteronomy 30:15-20 sets before us a choice between life and death, blessing and curse. Moses exhorts the people to choose life by adhering to God's commandments, promising prosperity and blessings if they do so, but warning of peril if they turn away. This passage emphasizes the importance of deliberate commitment to God's will.
The Gospel from Luke 9:22-25 shifts the focus to Jesus, who reveals the necessity of self-denial and taking up one's cross to follow Him. He underscores that true life is found in losing oneself for His sake, contrasting the fleeting gains of the world with the eternal salvation offered through Him. This choice is not merely about adhering to laws but about embracing a life transformed by faith and sacrifice.
Both readings converge on the theme of choice, each calling us to a commitment that leads to life. In Deuteronomy, it is the choice to obey God's laws, while in Luke, it is the choice to follow Jesus through self-denial. These choices are not abstract but lived out daily in our decisions and actions. As we navigate life's challenges, we are reminded to trust in God's plan, even when the path is difficult. Let us choose to follow Him, embracing the cross with faith, knowing that true life and fulfillment are found in Him.