Daily Readings - Thu Feb 27 2020
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
The first reading from Deuteronomy presents Moses offering the Israelites a stark choice: life or death, blessing or curse. Moses calls heaven and earth as witnesses, emphasizing the gravity of this decision. The choice is not merely about physical survival but about fidelity to God and His ways. To choose life means to love God, walk in His ways, and cling to Him, for He is the source of life and the promise of a future. This passage is set in the context of the Israelites standing on the brink of the Promised Land, ready to inherit the land sworn to their ancestors. Moses’ words are a final exhortation to remain faithful despite the challenges and temptations they will face.
The Gospel from Luke shifts the focus to Jesus, who speaks about the cost of discipleship. He predicts His own suffering, rejection, and resurrection, then turns to His followers, saying, “If anyone is willing to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross every day, and follow me.” Jesus is clear: the path of following Him is not one of comfort or self-preservation but of self-denial and surrender. The cross represents the ultimate act of love and trust in God’s plan, even when it leads to sacrifice. Jesus’ words challenge His disciples—and us—to reevaluate what it means to live a life that truly matters. Gaining the world but losing oneself is no gain at all; true life is found in losing oneself for His sake.
These readings are deeply connected, as both invite us to make a choice about how we will live. In Deuteronomy, the choice is between life and death, blessing and curse, while in Luke, it is between self-interest and self-denial. Together, they remind us that following God requires trust, commitment, and a willingness to let go of our own desires when they conflict with His will. In our daily lives, we are constantly faced with smaller but significant choices that reflect this larger decision. Will we choose to love God and walk in His ways, even when it is difficult? Will we take up our cross and follow Jesus, trusting that His plan leads to true life? These readings call us to live with intentionality, remembering that our choices shape who we are and where we are headed. Let us choose life—life in God—by clinging to Him and trusting in His promise.