Daily Readings - Thu Feb 15 2018

First Reading - Deuteronomy 30.15-20

¹⁵See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;¹⁶In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.¹⁷But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;¹⁸I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.¹⁹I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:²⁰That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Gospel - Luke 9.22-25

Luke

Chapter 9

²²Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.²³And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.²⁴For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.²⁵For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

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.