Andy Talks

In this Tuesday reflection that closes out Jude, the letter's final movement is from warning to mercy. Jude tells his readers to remember what the apostles predicted — scoffers will come, driven by their own desires, causing division — but then pivots immediately to the posture of the faithful: build yourselves up in faith, pray in the Spirit, keep yourselves in God's love, and look forward to the mercy of Christ that leads to eternal life. And then, critically, show that mercy to others — the wavering, the wandering, even those caught in sin. The reflection weaves in two personal life verses — Romans 8:28, which doesn't say all things are good but that God brings good from everything, and Romans 2:4, which says it is the kindness of God that leads to repentance — to make the central point: we are not saved by our goodness, but by God's mercy. And since mercy is God's very nature, and we are being made into his image, mercy should increasingly be ours too. The world is full of people