Readings
I - Eph. 2: 19-22
II - Lk. 6: 12-19
SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES (Feast)
In today’s Gospel passage Jesus selects his apostles after a whole night of prayer. His choice of selection at the outset might seem to be absurd and ridiculous because the team of apostles consisted of the fisher folk, the tax collector, the zealot, the illiterate, literate, the reasonable, the unreasonable, the impetuous and the cowards. But Jesus chose them, educated, empowered and sent them among a pack of wolves (Mt. 10:16) with the assurance of his presence with them, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). These apostles on account of their mission, the preaching of the Good News, Jesus Christ, endured sorrow, torture, persecution, suffering and death, but in perfect peace and joy.
Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saints Simon and Jude, the apostles of Jesus who belonged to the band of the twelve. Simon was also called as ‘zealot’. Jude was the brother of James and the author of the letter of Jude in the Bible. Simon and Jude vehemently preached the Gospel in Persia. They were martyred there on account of their proclamation about Jesus Christ. Simon was sawn in half and Jude was crucified and impaled with javelins. The feast of the saints help us to introspect on our dedication and contribution to the mission of Christ as Christians. Do we stand up for Christ and his teachings, counting not the cost; or yield ourselves in self-preservation for a glimmering worldly honour, glory, pride, pomp, recognition, acceptance, popularity, riches, wealth and success? Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help us to be your witnesses”
