The Liturgy of the Word today places before us an obvious choice. In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses says to the people: “Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom.” God respects our freedom, yet he urgently invites us: “Choose life.”

The Gospel according to Saint Luke shows us the concrete path to choosing that life. Jesus says: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Following the Lord is not just a desire; it is a decision that must be lived out each day.

To “deny oneself” does not mean rejecting one’s worth, but letting go of a life centered only on the self. When the ego takes control, we easily lose God and, in the end, lose ourselves. That is why Jesus warns us: “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it.”

To “take up the cross” is not simply to endure suffering. The cross is, first of all, a sign of love. Jesus accepted the cross because he loved us to the end. To carry the cross with him is to choose love, sacrifice, and faithfulness in the responsibilities of daily life.

In the Eucharist, Jesus continues to invite us to choose life. On the altar, he gives himself entirely to us. When we receive the Body of Christ, we are called to live his way of life: a life of self-giving and love.

Amid the many choices we face each day, the Word of God continues to echo: “Choose life.” May the Eucharist strengthen us, so that each day we may courageously follow Jesus on the way of the cross—the way that leads to life and resurrection.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, as your Eucharist nourishes us, give us the grace to choose life each day, to carry our cross with love, and to follow you faithfully on the path that leads to resurrection. Amen.