Daily Readings - Thu Mar 07 2019
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 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.