Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: June 1, 2024

Date: Saturday of the 8th Week of Ordinary Time/Memorial of St. Justin

Scripture Text:  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.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The first reading today is from the Letter of St. Jude and speaks to the reader about the need for vigilance and perseverance in faith tempered by mercy and loving kindness toward one another. Jude’s words remind us of the need to keep ourselves in right relationship with our loving and saving LORD as well as the need to care for our sisters and brothers who are also on the journey. Lastly, Jude reminds us that we do not journey alone, we journey in the love of our LORD in whom we live and move and have our being.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

What am I doing daily to keep myself in the love of God? What am I doing daily to help others on the journey?

Praying:

LORD, In You we live and move and have our being. Through the graces, gifts and guidance of your Spirit, grant that we may be vigilant in our journey of faith, hope and love to life with, through and in You. Stir within us that hunger for You and your love that fuels our perseverance and spills over into the lives of those with whom we journey. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.