First Reading: Jude 17,20b–25
Beloved, remember the words spoken beforehand
by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit.
Keep yourselves in the love of God
and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
that leads to eternal life.
On those who waver, have mercy;
save others by snatching them out of the fire;
on others have mercy with fear,
abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh.
To the one who is able to keep you from stumbling
and to present you unblemished and exultant,
in the presence of his glory,
to the only God, our savior,
through Jesus Christ our Lord
be glory, majesty, power, and authority
from ages past, now, and for ages to come. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6
R./ My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.
R./ My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.
R./ My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.
R./ My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Gospel Reading: Mark 11:27–33
Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem.
As he was walking in the temple area,
the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders
approached him and said to him,
"By what authority are you doing these things?
Or who gave you this authority to do them?"
Jesus said to them, "I shall ask you one question.
Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
Was John's baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me."
They discussed this among themselves and said,
"If we say, 'Of heavenly origin,' he will say,
'Then why did you not believe him?'
But shall we say, 'Of human origin'?"–
they feared the crowd,
for they all thought John really was a prophet.
So they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know."
Then Jesus said to them,
"Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things."
Stand firm in faith
The first reading for today is from the Letter of St. Jude. This letter is often overlooked because it only has one chapter and covers various issues that were present in the community to which it was written. Evidently, some teachers were deviating from the accepted Christian teachings, which led to tensions within the community.
The author reminds his audience that even the apostles themselves predicted that there would be people who mocked and ridiculed the Christian faith. However, he encourages the listeners to stand firm in their beliefs, to remain prayerful, and to persevere in their faith. The faithful are also advised to correct any confusion they encounter and to help those who may have been led astray. The Apostle emphasizes the importance of relying solely on Christ for protection against falling away from the faith.
It’s possible for us to be misled even in today’s world. Hence, it’s important to be cautious and not blindly accept every new opinion that comes our way. However, being open-minded is equally important. We should be willing to consider new insights into theological positions and be open to changing our perspective if convinced. This is a positive sign of growth.
In today’s Gospel, the people who confronted Jesus were not open to a discussion with Him as their minds were already made up. As Christians, we believe that Jesus taught with authority received from God, but we acknowledge that we are not all-knowing. New questions arise every day in our lives, communities, cultures, and nations. However, the Jesus of the Gospels remains the same: «yesterday and today and forever.”
If we face challenges to our faith with joy and courage, we stand upon the truth that leads to eternal life.
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Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
you are the source of all wisdom.
Speak your word to us today
and open our hearts to it,
that we may learn to look with your eyes
to the world and to people
and that your wisdom
may guide us in all we do.
We ask you this through him you sent among us
and in whom we believe,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
he letter of Jude is close to apocalyptic literature and rather severe toward those who are worldly, unspiritual, and causing divisions. Yet, at the same time, he asks that mercy be shown to those who are wavering.
Gospel Introduction
The Gospel shows us the Jewish leaders challenging Jesus' authority for what he teaches and does because they feel challenged in their own authority. Jesus does not give them an answer because they are not willing to accept him anyway because they only try to justify themselves. They and we cannot understand Jesus unless we encounter and welcome and love him as a person.
General Intercessions
– That the Church may imitate Jesus and base its authority on service and healing, we pray:
– That those in authority may be humble and self-effacing, we pray:
– That we may recognize authority more in goodness and mercy rather than in power, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
you have given us your Son, Jesus,
to be with us and to show us the way to you.
Let him become to us a living person
present here among us
in these signs of bread and wine,
present also in people around us,
present in our lives
as our companion on the road to you,
for he is our Lord for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, loving Father,
your Son, Jesus, has been with us
in this Eucharistic celebration.
Give us the wisdom and the humility
to accept your Son always
on his own terms and with his own authority.
May we thus, come to love him more
and to live the kind of life
he lived among people
as the truth and the life and the way to you,
our living and loving God for ever.
Blessing
Thank God that we believe in Jesus. May we also accept those who speak in his name. We ask the Lord to increase our faith. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
