Jude 17, 20-25 / Mark 11:27-33
Faith is essential in the Christian life. Because faith is the foundation that we build our lives on.
Faith leads us to pray and to keep ourselves within the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to give us eternal life.
But faith must also be expressed in good works. Or to put it simply, what is inside must also be seen outside.
Faith without any form of good works is dead. Hence, the 1st reading urges us to reassure those who have doubts, and when there are some to be saved from the fire, to pull them out.
But the 1st reading also tells us this - there are others to whom you must be kind with great caution, keeping your distance even from outside clothing which is contaminated by vice.
So faith tells us to be kind but also to be cautious with those who will lure and lead us into sin.
Such was how Jesus responded to the chief priests and scribes and elders when they questioned His authority.
Jesus did not enter into an argument with them but rather gave them something to think about. He was cautious about falling into their trap.
So faith must be expressed in forms of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, compassion, etc.
But with faith we also must pray for wisdom, knowledge and understand so that we won't fall into temptation and be led into sin.