THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY - Gospel (Luke 9:22-25) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
FIRST READING - Dt 30:15-20
"I have set before you the blessing and the curse."
A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy
15 See, I have today set before you life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I am giving you today, loving the Lord, your God, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and ordinances, you will live and grow numerous, and the Lord, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 If, however, your heart turns away and you do not obey, but are led astray and bow down to other gods and serve them, 18 I tell you today that you will certainly perish; you will not have a long life on the land which you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, 20 by loving the Lord, your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land which the Lord swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 9:22-25
"Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."
✠From the Gospel according to Luke
22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
23 Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily[a] and follow me. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?
THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY - Gospel (Luke 9:22-25)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear people of God,
In today's Word of God, Jesus foretells His disciples, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by the chief priests, elders, and scribes, and be killed, but on the third day be raised."
Resurrection is the joy and happiness for all who dare to deny themselves, take up the cross and follow the Lord.
If there is only suffering without resurrection, then that suffering is useless. Therefore, God wants all who are carrying the cross to follow the Lord, who are giving up everything to live for the Lord and for the Gospel, to be at peace.
For thanks to the suffering and carrying the cross with the Lord, the joy and happiness of the afterlife await all children of God – those who dare to sacrifice and deny themselves to follow the Lord.
He also states that all apostles, disciples, or those following the Lord in this modern era must also undergo suffering, be rejected, and be killed spiritually as well as physically; but God always accompanies them, and He promises to grant eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven hereafter.
Today's Word of God also says that Jesus came down to earth as a human to redeem humanity from sin.
He died, and after three days, He rose again. The resurrection of Jesus is the pinnacle of the victory over death. That pinnacle of resurrection will also be for all who dare to sacrifice, deny themselves, and faithfully carry the cross to follow the Lord.
Therefore, God invites those who are following Him to live joyfully, happily, and peacefully and to joyfully accept all suffering in every circumstance.
For the Son of God has risen, all who are following the Most Holy Teacher Jesus and are faithful and loyal to Him until their last breath, will also be resurrected with Him.
Today, God also says to everyone, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul."
Nowadays, many people have power, authority, and everything, but they use those things to oppress common people, to oppress others, to exclude and kill others.
Question: Do the souls of those people still belong to God?
This question is for those who are not living according to God’s teaching in the Gospel, which is to practice living in charity and love.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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