The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the nature of merciful action that expresses truth, beauty, and goodness when we encounter conflict.
The reading from the Letter of Jude expresses Warnings and Exhortations before a Benediction.
* [18] This is the substance of much early Christian preaching rather than a direct quotation of any of the various New Testament passages on this theme (see Mk 13:22; Acts 20:30; 1 Tm 4:1–3; 2 Pt 3:3).
* [22] Have mercy: some manuscripts read “convince,” “confute,” or “reprove.” Others have “even though you waver” or “doubt” instead of who waver.
* [23] With fear: some manuscripts connect the phrase “with fear” with the imperative “save” or with the participle “snatching.” Other manuscripts omit the phrase “on others have mercy,” so that only two groups are envisioned. Rescue of those led astray and caution in the endeavor are both enjoined. Outer garment stained by the flesh: the imagery may come from Zec 3:3–5, just as that of snatching…out of the fire comes from Zec 3:2; the very garments of the godless are to be abhorred because of their contagion.
* [24–25] With this liturgical statement about the power of God to keep the faithful from stumbling, and praise to him through Jesus Christ, the letter reaches its conclusion by returning to the themes with which it began (Jude 1–2). (Letter of Jude, n.d.)
Psalm 63 praises comfort and assurance in God’s Presence.
* [Psalm 63] A Psalm expressing the intimate relationship between God and the worshiper. Separated from God (Ps 63:2), the psalmist longs for the divine life given in the Temple (Ps 63:3–6), which is based on a close relationship with God (Ps 63:7–9). May all my enemies be destroyed and God’s true worshipers continue in giving praise (Ps 63:10–11)!
* [63:4] For your love is better than life: only here in the Old Testament is anything prized above life—in this case God’s love. (Psalm 63, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus’ Authority Is Questioned.
* [11:27–33] The mounting hostility toward Jesus came from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders (Mk 11:27); the Herodians and the Pharisees (Mk 12:13); and the Sadducees (Mk 12:18). By their rejection of God’s messengers, John the Baptist and Jesus, they incurred the divine judgment implied in Mk 11:27–33 and confirmed in the parable of the vineyard tenants (Mk 12:1–12). (Mark, n.d.)
Larry Gillick, S.J. comments that In one of his final classes this semester in the course on the Spiritual Exercises, there was quite a discussion about having questions and doubts meaning one did not have faith. Faith needs questions and doubts!
How about this? Jesus got His authority from experiences of being tempted in the desert, challenged by religiously rigorous rulers and by His own human intellect wanting comforting answers to good human doubts and fears. We hold sacredly to His being fully human and does not that imply doubts and questions as you and I have, while remaining people of faith? Stay faithful to questions and do not settle for easy answers. Jesus did not hand them out like political flyers. (Gillick, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Fearing the truth,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Fearing a stoning, but fearing more an admission of the truth, they answered the truth with a lie, reminiscent of the Scripture: 'injustice has lied within herself' (Psalm 27:12). For they said, 'We know not.' And because they had shut themselves up against him, by asserting that they did not know what they knew, the Lord did not open up to them because they did not knock. For it has been said, 'Knock and it will be opened to you' (Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9). But they not only had not knocked that it might be opened, but by their denial they barricaded the door itself against themselves. And the Lord said to them, 'Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things' (Matthew 21:27; Mark 11:33; Luke 20:7). (excerpt from TRACTATE ON JOHN 2.9.4) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Jude 17, 20-25 comments that the Lord is asking us to go beyond our natural inclinations and exercise the supernatural gift of God’s mercy. This doesn’t mean ignoring sin or making light of it. It means exercising the kind of mercy that intercedes, that evangelizes, and that reaches out in love. It means letting that mercy propel us into the world with the goal of “snatching . . . out of the fire” as many people as we can (Jude 23).
Waiting for the mercy of the Lord is not a passive standing-on-the sidelines thing. In fact, the more we show mercy, the more we pave the way for God’s mercy to arrive. So be sure to sow mercy everywhere you go. Mercy, plain and simple. Mercy, powerful but vigilant. Mercy, tenderhearted and unwavering. This is how you will “keep [yourself] in the love of God” (Jude 21). And it’s how you will bring that love to the people around you.
“Jesus, teach me how to reflect your mercy in this world!” (Meditation on Jude 17, 20-25, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the letter of Jude is only one chapter and it may have been authored by a relative of Jesus. The letter exhorts us to a charitable life and praise of God. Cleverness was an important virtue for survival in Jesus' environment. Friar Jude reminds us that the spiritual life demands that we make choices about our relationships.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, offers a contemplative practice of receiving God’s love so it can flow through us to others.
Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:39). We are to love our neighbor in the same way we love ourselves. “We love because God has first loved us” (1 John 4:19). When we accept the unconditional love and undeserved mercy that God offers us—knowing we are not worthy of it—then we can allow God to love others through us in the same way. It’s God in you loving you, warts and all, and God in you loving others as they are. This is why the love we have available to give away is limitless. (Rohr, n.d.)
We are challenged to extend mercy in situations that present the opportunity to conquer or dismiss people who oppose our Way and test our cleverness.
References
Gillick, L. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved June 1, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/060124.html
Letter of Jude. (n.d.). USCCB Bible. Retrieved June 1, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jude/1
Mark. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 1, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/11?27
Meditation on Jude 17, 20-25. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 1, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/06/01/987382/
Psalm 63. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 1, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/63?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Loving Neighbor, Loving Self: Weekly Summary. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved June 1, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/loving-neighbor-loving-self-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Who Gave You This Authority? Daily Scripture net. Retrieved June 1, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jun1
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