Epistle

Doubtless like others of his time he enjoyed several names, and it is natural that the early Christians should have avoided the name he shared with the traitor, Judas.

Epistle of St. Jude.

In the address of the epistle the author styles himself Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James.

Servant of Jesus Christ means apostolic minister or laborer.

Brother of James denotes him as the brother of James who was well known to the Hebrew Christians to whom the epistle of St. Jude was written.

This James is to be identified with the Bishop of the Church of Jerusalem, spoken of by St. Paul as the brother of the Lord, who was the author of the Catholic Epistle of St. James, and is regarded amongst Catholic interpreters as the Apostle James, the son of Alphaeus, James the Less.

This last identification, however, is not evident nor, from a critical point of view, does it seem beyond all doubt.

Most Catholic commentators identify Jude with the Judas Jacobi, the brother of James, also called Thaddeus, that his brother James was better known than himself in the primitive church.

Let us attend to the Holy Scriptures appointed for today.

The reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Colossians.

Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, touch not, taste not, handle not, which all are to perish with the using, after the commandments and doctrines of men, which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship and humility and neglecting of the body not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Let us attend to the Holy Scriptures appointed for today.

The reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Colossians.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.

blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of an holy day or of the new moon or of the Sabbath days, which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances? The reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Philippians.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.

and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews.

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

jesus christ the same yesterday and today and forever be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace not with meats which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

And Christ, you are inside Christ.

About 140 references to in Christ, in whom, through whom, by whom, like that, in the epistles.

is a very emphatic point that Apostle Paul and the other authors of the Epistles wanted to make.

You are situated inside Christ.

When God sees you, He doesn't see Tolu, He sees Christ.