Daily Readings - Thu Feb 27 2020

Deuteronomy

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.

Luke

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

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.