Daily Readings - Thu Feb 23 2023
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
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.