Daily Readings - Thu Feb 15 2024
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
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.