Jude 17, 20B-25, Psalm 63:2-6, Mark 11:27-33

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly;
giving thanks to God the Father through him. Col 3:16A, 17C

Jude 17, 20B-25, Psalm 63:2-6, Mark 11:27-33

Jude 17, 20B-25

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul, 

How good it is to be addressed by the Apostles as Beloved; it is You who are Beloved to us my Lord and we are beloved to the Church of which You are the Bridegroom and we the Bride. Here St. Jude, the writer of this letter, urges us to recall what Your Apostles preached, taught, wrote - this is the magisterium and he urges us to form our lives according to what they have taught us. They were formed by You. They were filled with Your Holy Spirit. They were sent out by You to go out into the world and preach the Good News that saves all who believe. 

He reminds us, first of all, to be grounded in the holy faith which is Your gift to us. We are called to pray in the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Truth, Love, and Life. He is the channel through which grace upon grace is given to us through the Sacraments. We, in turn, are called to remain in God's love, the love revealed to us by You. Mercy is ours because we have believed in the One whom the Father sent and our final reward is eternal life with You in the company of the angels and saints.

However, we are not saved in isolation. We are called to exercise the Corporal works of Mercy in order to draw others to You. We are called to share the Good News so Your mercy is granted to all and most especially to those who would otherwise be lost eternally. We are called to strengthen the faith of those who doubt. We are called to live pure, holy lives, unstained, and unblemished by sin. We cannot do this on our own - but with You, we can do all things. Thank You for making us one with Yourself because only You can help us to, keep you from stumbling and present us as Your Bride to the Father without wrinkle or stain of sin. To You, Beloved be glory, majesty, power, and authority from ages past, now, and for ages to come. Amen.

Psalm 63:2-6

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

The psalmist expresses so beautifully all that I want to say. I thirst for You, I pine for You, I hunger for You more than a starving beggar longs for food.

I need You Beloved and without You, it would be better if I was never born. With You, I am all You are for I am grafted to You. Without You, cut off from the Vine, I would wither and die and be good for nothing except to be thrown as kindling into the everlasting flames that never go out.

I thank You for grace that has drawn me ever closer to Yourself as each year goes by. Thank You for Your merciful love without which I would have been lost a long time ago. It was You who persisted, You who cajoled, You who tenderly and lovingly wooed me and drew me into Yourself. You make a home for me in Your Sacred Heart. Continue to pour grace upon me so I may praise You with every breath I breathe all the days of my life on earth and eternally in the life to come. Amen.

Mark 11:27-33

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

It is now the third day after You cleared the temple, overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and drove all those engaged in commerce out of the temple area. Ever since this incident the chief priests and scribes have been stewing in their anger and discontent. These are powerful men and yet they are helpless in the face of the power of the people whom they fear. The people who come who come day after day to listen to You teach, preach, any many of whom have seen You work miracles, signs that God was surely with You. 

All they can do, besides plotting grievous bodily harm to You, is to question You sullenly,

"By what authority are you doing these things?

Or who gave you this authority to do them?"

Their cowardly response is the response of all who ever refused to take a stand on the side of the true, the good, the noble, the beautiful, the divine. They opt for silence because no matter what their response is they stand condemned. 

They were wily enough to know that they were trapped either way. This is the conversation that they had among themselves, 

 "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."

They took the coward's way out by saying in reply, "We do not know."

By the words of their mouth, they condemned themselves to separation from the Tree of Life. They did not want to know because if they did, they would have to believe. Much like the rich young man, they refused the opportunity to know, believe, and embrace the Truth.

Then Jesus said to them,

"Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things."