Daily Readings - Sat Jun 02 2018
Jude
17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.18They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires."19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.22Be merciful to those who doubt;23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.24To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Mark
27They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.28"By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?"29Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.30John's baptism--was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!"31They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'32But if we say, 'From men'...." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)33So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing 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.