Clever, merciful and holy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today touch on three attitudes or virtues which are presented as ways to live in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The very short letter of Jude, which Friar Jude Winkler identifies as the last text to be added to the New Testament, advises living in pursuit of holiness a we wait for the return of Christ at our own or the end time of the world. We are to show mercy to those who are not living as Jesus taught and to be aware how we all live in the "holy fear" of broken sinners who also aspire to follow Christ. The episode in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus clever response to the Pharisees is a demonstration of authority from God to the people who, according to Friar Jude, held clever argument as a sign of special status. This cleverness is not for self aggrandizement, but is the consequence of the trust of the speaker in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to "give him words". The Holy Spirit "has our back" as we strive to be holy