Daily Readings - Thu Feb 15 2024
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
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the choices we make in life and the consequences that follow. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses presents the Israelites with a stark choice: life and prosperity if they follow God’s commandments, or death and destruction if they turn away. This passage is set in a pivotal moment for the Israelites, as they stand on the brink of entering the Promised Land. Moses calls heaven and earth as witnesses, emphasizing the gravity of the decision before them. The choice is not just about immediate consequences but about their ultimate destiny and relationship with God.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the choice His followers must make. He predicts His own suffering, death, and resurrection, and then turns to His disciples with a clear and challenging message: to follow Him, they must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and lose their lives for His sake. This teaching is set in the context of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, where He is resolute in fulfilling His mission. The cross represents the ultimate symbol of sacrifice, and Jesus is clear that discipleship requires a willingness to let go of self-interest and worldly gain for the sake of the Kingdom.
Both readings remind us that our choices have profound implications. In Deuteronomy, the choice is between life and death, blessing and curse. In Luke, the choice is between saving one’s life and losing it for the sake of Christ. Together, they teach us that true life comes from trusting in God’s plan and being willing to surrender our own desires for a higher purpose. In our daily lives, we are constantly faced with decisions that test our commitment to God. Do we choose comfort and convenience, or do we embrace the sacrifices that come with following Christ? The readings encourage us to remember that the path of discipleship is not easy, but it is the only path that leads to true and lasting life. Let us choose life by loving God, listening to His voice, and clinging to Him, for He is our life and the length of our days.