Embracing Jude's Call to Faith, Prayer, and Love
June 1, 2024 - Saturday 8th Week in Ordinary Time, Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr
Jude 17, 20b-25
The Letter of Jude, one of the shortest in the New Testament, focuses on warning Christ's believers against false teachers. This brief epistle poses several challenges for contemporary scholarship, including uncertainty about the author's identity, audience, and the letter's date. Additionally, references to apocryphal writings like the Book of Enoch and the Assumption of Moses (Jude 1:9, 14) initially raised doubts about its canonical status.
Our passage comes from the letter's conclusion, which includes exhortation and doxology. The author urges us not to imitate those lacking the Spirit of God but to persevere in faith and love, awaiting "the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life" (Jude 1:21). The phrase "build yourselves up in faith" suggests completing what others began. Just as Saint Paul taught that we are "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone" (Eph. 2:20), we are called to build ourselves in faith upon this foundation. However, the quality of our construction and its completion depend on us, as Paul warns: "Let each one take care how he builds upon [this foundation]" (1 Cor 3:10).
Jude instructs us to pray in the Holy Spirit, echoing Saint Paul's call to pray "at all times in the Spirit" (Eph. 6:18). The Christian life and worship are empowered by the Spirit of God. The one who created the universe, endowed certain people in the Old Testament with leadership, artistic, and prophetic gifts, overshadowed the Blessed Virgin Mary, defeated death in the resurrection of Christ, and came upon the Church on the day of Pentecost, dwells in every Christian. The Spirit brings about our repentance, leads us to Christ, reminds us of Jesus' life-giving words, and teaches us how to pray. Thus, we need to be acquainted with this Third Person of the Holy Trinity, also known as Love and the Spirit of Truth.
Saint Paul taught that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Rom 5:5). Jude similarly advises us to remain in that love (Jude 1:21), echoing Jesus' command to abide in His love by loving one another (John 15:9, 12). God's love has been poured into our hearts like an overflowing stream or a flood, and it should overflow from our hearts into others. It is that same love that motivated Jesus to offer His life for the salvation of the world, inspired martyrs to offer their lives for Christ and His Gospel, and moved all other saints to offer their lives for the proclamation of the Gospel and the transformation of our world.
Jude concludes his letter with a beautiful prayer of praise to God the Father through Jesus Christ, our Lord. He can safeguard us from stumbling and help us finish our race, standing blameless and joyful in His glorious presence (see Jude 1:24).
Let us take heed of Jude's call to build our lives on the foundation of apostolic faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and remain in God's love. And may the Lord accomplish the good work that He has begun in us.