Daily Readings - Thu Feb 23 2023
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 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.