Daily Readings - Sat Jun 01 2024
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 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.