Feast of Saints Simon and Jude
Scripture:
Ephesians 2:19-22
Luke 6:12-16
Reflection:
We don’t know very much about Simon and Jude whom we celebrate today. They were disciples of Jesus who shared a missionary journey to—and martyrdom in – Persia, a part of the world where faith in Christ remains a risk and martyrs are a contemporary witness.
Saint Paul tells us:
“Brothers and sisters: you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
But you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
And members of the household of God,
Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
With Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.”
As fellow citizens and members of the household of God, we are called to emulate Simon and Jude and all holy men and women gone before us as well as those present today. The danger of suffering martyrdom in the same way as Simon and Jude is pretty remote for us in the current time. At the same time there are other sufferings we are asked to endure for the sake of the gospel. Oftentimes we are subject to ridicule or disdain when we stand up for gospel values or promote justice for all of God’s people. We are called to be the face of Jesus on a daily basis as we come up against the world around us where injustice, violence and human suffering is so pervasive.
We are bombarded by the media and secular culture that oftentimes has a message that is countercultural to the gospel message we are asked to live as a follower of Christ. Jesus gives us an example in the gospel today of a way to combat the sins of indifference shown not only in society,but in our churches and other institutions as well. In preparing to name the 12 apostles, he went away and spent time in prayer. In our fast-paced world we don’t always give God the due that God deserves. We don’t take the time to spend in prayer or quiet ourselves enough to listen to that small voice of God within our very being.
Let us give thanks this day for the witness of Simon and Jude and challenge each other to take time to feed our soul and spirit so that we may be more effective ministers to God’s people.
Theresa Secord is a Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.
