Daily Readings - Thu Feb 27 2020
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
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.