Daily Readings - Thu Feb 15 2018
Deuteronomy
15"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.16If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.17But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,18I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.19I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,20loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."
Luke
22saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."23And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.24For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.25For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
Sermon
In today's readings, we are presented with profound choices and commitments that shape our spiritual journey. The first reading from Deuteronomy captures Moses' impassioned plea to the Israelites as they stand on the brink of entering the Promised Land. He lays before them a clear choice: life and blessing through obedience to God's commandments, or death and curse through disobedience. This moment is pivotal, as it underscores the Israelites' responsibility to remain faithful to the covenant they have with God, a covenant that promises life and prosperity if they adhere to His ways.
The Gospel reading from Luke shifts our focus to Jesus, who reveals the inevitable path of suffering and rejection He must endure. He then turns to His disciples, emphasizing the cost of following Him. Jesus calls them to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him, asserting that true life is found in losing oneself for His sake. This teaching challenges the disciples—and us—to reevaluate our priorities and commitments, recognizing that earthly gains are worthless compared to the eternal life offered through Christ.
Both readings invite us to reflect on the choices we make in our daily lives. Moses' words remind us that our decisions have consequences, urging us to choose life by staying true to God's commandments. Jesus extends this by calling us to a radical commitment, one that involves self-denial and embracing the cross. In a world filled with distractions and temptations, these readings encourage us to remain steadfast in our faith, trusting that God's plan, though often challenging, leads us to true and eternal life. Let us, therefore, choose life by following God's path, even when it demands sacrifice, for it is in losing ourselves for Christ that we truly find ourselves.