Selflessness, even to the extent of losing one's life for His sake.

To accept one's cross is essential to following Christ.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 

See, I set

Before you on this day life and good, evil and death. I command you to love Yahweh, your God and follow his ways.

Observe his commandments, his norms and his laws, and you will live and increase,

and Yahweh will give you his blessing in the land you are going to possess.

But if your heart turns away and does not listen, if you are drawn away and bow before other gods to serve them,

I declare on this day that you shall perish. You shall not last in the land you are going to occupy on the other side of the Jordan.

 

Let the heavens and the earth listen, that they may be witnesses against you.

I have set before you, life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life that you and your descendants may live,

loving Yahweh, listening to his voice, and being one with him. In this is life for you and length of days

in the land which Yahweh swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

 

Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 9:22-25

And he added, "The Son of Man must suffer many things.

He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the law, and be put to death.

Then after three days he will be raised to life." Jesus also said to all the people, "If you wish to be a follower of mine,

deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow me! For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it;

but if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it. What does it profit you to gain the whole world, if you destroy or damage yourself?

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Losing one's life for His sake.

 Discipleship is a central theme in Lucan scriptures. In today's Gospel,

St. Luke emphasizes that being a disciple means not only accepting the Master's teaching

but also personally identifying with His way of life and destiny. Just as Jesus denied himself and embraced His cross,

we are called to follow His example. This could mean prioritizing others'

needs over our own- like a friend helping a struggling peer or parents sacrificing personal desires for the sake of their children.

 

While the world encourages self-love and attachments to worldly things, Jesus teaches us radical love:

selflessness, even to the extent of losing one's life for His sake. To accept one's cross is essential to following Christ,

as there is no more excellent proof of love than to offer one's life for one's sister or brother.

This is the ultimate expression of love and faith in our call as disciples.