Daily Readings - Sat Jun 01 2024

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 two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on faith, authority, and our relationship with God. The first reading from Jude warns us about the dangers of false teachings and the importance of standing firm in our faith. Jude urges us to be mindful of the words of the apostles and to trust in God’s power to keep us from sin. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel presents Jesus being questioned by the religious leaders about His authority. Jesus responds by challenging them to consider the origin of John the Baptist’s baptism, leaving them in a dilemma that ultimately reveals their lack of faith. These readings remind us that true authority comes from God, and our faith must be rooted in Him. In a world filled with conflicting opinions and desires, we are called to discern what is truly of God. Like Jude, we must build ourselves up in faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep ourselves in God’s love. Jesus’ exchange with the leaders teaches us that without faith, even the most learned among us can become stuck in uncertainty. We are invited to trust in God’s power and to live out our faith with courage and humility. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Where do we place our trust? Are we rooted in God’s love, or are we swayed by the desires and opinions of the world? Let us strive to live as people of faith, discerning God’s will in our lives and trusting in His power to guide us. May we, like Jude, be mindful of the apostles’ teachings and, like Jesus, stand firm in our commitment to God’s truth, even in the face of challenges and uncertainties.