Daily Readings - Sat Jun 02 2018
Jude
17But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;18How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.22And of some have compassion, making a difference:23And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Mark
27And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,28And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?29And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.30The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.31And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?32But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.33And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do 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.