Daily Readings - Sat Jun 01 2024

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

Chapter 11

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 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.