Daily Readings - Thu Feb 15 2024
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
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.