Daily Readings - Thu Feb 23 2023
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 a profound invitation to reflect on the choices we make in our lives. The first reading from Deuteronomy sets before us a clear choice: life or death, blessings or curses. Moses urges the people to choose life by loving and obeying God, emphasizing the importance of commitment to God's ways. This passage is part of Moses' final address to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, a moment of critical decision that will shape their future.
The Gospel reading from Luke shifts our focus to Jesus, who speaks about the necessity of self-denial and taking up one's cross daily. He warns that following him requires losing one's life to save it, a stark reminder of the cost of discipleship. This passage occurs as Jesus journeys toward Jerusalem, where he will face suffering and death, illustrating the depth of commitment required to follow him.
Both readings invite us to consider the choices we make daily. Just as the Israelites had to choose between life and death, we too must decide whether to follow God's path or our own desires. Jesus calls us to a life of self-denial, not in the sense of rejecting life's joys, but in prioritizing our spiritual life and commitment to him. This choice is not about comfort but about trusting in God's plan, even when it leads to sacrifice.
In our daily lives, we face countless decisions that test our commitment to God. We are called to embrace the cross, trusting that through our struggles and sacrifices, we will find true life. Let us remember that choosing life means loving God, obeying his commandments, and trusting in his promise of eternal life. May we, like the Israelites, choose life and may we, as disciples of Jesus, follow him with courage and fidelity.