Daily Readings - Sat Jun 02 2018

¹⁷But as for you, most beloved, be mindful of the words which have been foretold by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ¹⁸who declared to you that, in the end time, there would arrive mockers, walking according to their own desires, in impieties¹⁹These are the ones who segregate themselves; they are animals, not having the Spirit²⁰But you, most beloved, are building yourselves up by your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit²¹keeping yourselves in the love of God, and anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life²²So certainly, reprove them, after they have been judged²³Yet truly, save them, seizing them from the fire. And have mercy on others: in fear, hating even that which is of the flesh, the defiled garment²⁴Then, to him who has the power to keep you free from sin and to present you, immaculate, with exultation, before the presence of his glory at the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ²⁵to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord: to him be glory and magnificence, dominion and power, before all ages, and now, and in every age, forever. Amen

Mark

Chapter 11

²⁷And they went again to Jerusalem. And when he was walking in the temple, the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, and the elders approached him²⁸And they said to him: "By what authority do you do these things? And who has given you this authority, so that you would do these things?²⁹But in response, Jesus said to them: "I also will ask you one word, and if you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I do these things³⁰The baptism of John: was it from heaven or from men? Answer me.³¹But they discussed it among themselves, saying: "If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?³²If we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people. For they all hold that John was a true prophet.³³And answering, they said to Jesus, "We do not know." And in response, Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter themes of authority, faith, and discernment. The first reading from Jude urges believers to remain steadfast in their faith amidst the challenges of the end times, warning against those who would lead others astray by following their own desires. Jude encourages the faithful to build themselves up in their holy faith and to show mercy to others, saving them from the influences of sin. The Gospel from Mark presents a confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders, who question His authority. Jesus responds by questioning the origin of John the Baptist’s authority, leaving the leaders in a dilemma, unable to answer without exposing their own hypocrisy. These readings invite us to reflect on the nature of authority and our response to it. In Jude, we see a call to trust in God’s authority and to live out our faith with courage and compassion. In Mark, Jesus challenges the leaders—and us—to examine the source of true authority. The leaders’ inability to answer Jesus’ question reveals their lack of faith and their reliance on human approval rather than divine truth. Together, the readings remind us that true authority comes from God, and we must discern carefully where we place our trust. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are called to remain rooted in our faith, even when faced with challenges or uncertainties. We must be mindful of the influences around us and strive to live in accordance with God’s will. Like Jude, we are encouraged to pray in the Holy Spirit and to keep ourselves in God’s love. Let us also learn from Jesus’ example, standing firm in our commitment to the truth, even when it is difficult. May we seek to build up one another in faith and to serve as instruments of God’s mercy in a world that often rejects His authority.