Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 2, 2018
First Reading: Jude 1.17-25
17But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.18They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions."19It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.20But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit;21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.22And have mercy on those who doubt;23save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.24Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,25to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Psalm 63
1O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.2So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.3Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.4So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.5My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,6when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;7for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.8My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.9But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;10they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.11But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.
Gospel: Mark 11.27-33
27And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him,28and they said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?"29Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.30Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me."31And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'32But shall we say, 'From man'?"--they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.33So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And 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.