Deuteronomy 30:15-20 / Luke 9:22-25
Making choices can be quite difficult, like which school to send the children to, what career to embark on, which person to enter into marriage with, right down to what food to eat and what clothes to wear.
If those kinds of choices are difficult to make, then it may seem that the choice between life and death would be more straight-forward and clear-cut.
After all, a choice between life and death would seem to have a forgone conclusion, i.e. the choice would be obviously for life.
But if it is such an obvious choice, then why would there be a choice at at all?
We need to be aware of that sinful part in us that will make us look at the dark and slippery options that will eventually lead us to death, whether physical or spiritual death.
That is why in the 1st reading, Moses put before the people a choice between life and death, prosperity and disaster, blessing and curse.
And he was exhorting and urging the people, even like almost begging them, to choose life by obeying the voice of God and living in the love of the Lord.
The other choice would be death and disaster, and there are no other choices in between.
In the gospel, Jesus made it known what his choice for God would entail - He will accept suffering, rejection by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and finally be put to death.
That doesn't sound very motivating; in fact it sounded rather frightening. Yes, we are indeed frightened to lose our lives by giving of ourselves to others and sacrificing for others.
If we choose to follow Jesus, then it means that we have to renounce ourselves and take up our cross everyday. That is indeed a difficult choice, but it is a choice that would bring us blessings and prosperity, life and love.