Daily Readings - Thu Feb 18 2021
Deuteronomy
15See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.16For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.17But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them,18I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.19This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live20and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Luke
22And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.25What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound invitations to reflect on the choices we make in our lives. The first reading from Deuteronomy presents Moses offering the Israelites a choice between life and death, urging them to follow God's commandments to ensure their survival and prosperity in the Promised Land. This pivotal moment in their journey serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness and obedience.
In the Gospel, Luke shares Jesus' teachings on the necessity of self-denial and the bearing of one's cross. Jesus emphasizes that true life is found not in self-preservation but in surrendering to God's will. This teaching challenges us to consider the cost of discipleship and the transformative power of prioritizing spiritual life over worldly gains.
Both readings converge on the theme of choice, guiding us to reflect on our daily decisions. Moses' admonition and Jesus' teachings call us to commit to a life of faith and trust in God's plan. Embracing this commitment involves letting go of our desires for a higher purpose, trusting that true fulfillment comes from following God. As we navigate life's challenges, may we choose to walk in God's ways, finding life in Him.