First reading Jude 1:17,20-25
Use your most holy faith as your foundation
Remember, my dear friends, what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ told you to expect. You must use your most holy faith as your foundation and build on that, praying in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves within the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you eternal life. When there are some who have doubts reassure them; when there are some to be saved from the fire, pull them out; but there are others to whom you must be kind with great caution, keeping your distance even from outside clothing which is contaminated by vice.
Glory be to him who can keep you from falling and bring you safe to his glorious presence, innocent and happy. To God, the only God, who saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord, be the glory, majesty, authority and power, which he had before time began, now and for ever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm 62(63):2-6
For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God.
O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
Gospel Mark 11:27-33
I will not tell you my authority for acting like this
Jesus and his disciples came to Jerusalem, and as Jesus was walking in the Temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, ‘What authority have you for acting like this? Or who gave you authority to do these things?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you a question, only one; answer me and I will tell you my authority for acting like this. John’s baptism: did it come from heaven, or from man? Answer me that.’ And they argued it out this way among themselves: ‘If we say from heaven, he will say, “Then why did you refuse to believe him?” But dare we say from man?’ – they had the people to fear, for everyone held that John was a real prophet. So their reply to Jesus was, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Nor will I tell you my authority for acting like this.’
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True authority
In today’s Gospel, the religious leaders question Jesus about His authority. Instead of defending Himself, Jesus asks them a question to reveal what they truly believe: do they trust human approval or God’s truth? The leaders cannot answer because they worry about the crowd’s opinion. Jesus’ authority comes not from a desire for power but from his deep and loving connection to the Father.
Today, Jesus asks us to honestly reflect on where we look for validation. Do we seek approval from others, value our status, or prioritise our comfort? Or do we align ourselves with Jesus, rooted in God’s will, and willing to serve others instead of seeking to be served? True authority is not about dominating others but about integrity shaped by a loving communion with God.
Reflective question
Under whose authority am I living today: the world’s or God’s?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
