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. (2b) 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.
ALLELUIA
See Colossians 3:16a, 17c
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; giving thanks to God the Father through him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
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, AI 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.”
REFLECTIONS:
Do you accept the authority of Gods word and submit
to it with trust and obedience? Many religious leaders took offense at
Jesus because they could not accept his authority. After Jesus had dramatically
cleansed the temple of the traders and money-changers the Jewish leaders
question Jesus to trap him. If he says his authority is divine they will
charge him with blasphemy. If he has done this on his own authority they
might well arrest him as a mad zealot before he could do more damage. Jesus,
seeing through their trap, poses a question to them and makes their answer
a condition for his answer. Did they accept the work of John the Baptist
as divine or human? If they accepted Johns work as divine, they would
be compelled to accept Jesus as the Messiah. They dodged the question because
they were unwilling to face the truth. They did not accept the Baptist
and they would not accept Jesus as their Messiah. Jesus told his disciples
that the truth will make you free (John 8:31). Do you know the joy and
freedom of living according to God's word of truth?
Lord Jesus, your word is life and truth. Instruct my heart that
I may grow in the knowledge of your truth and live according to your word.
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