They preached the Good News just as Christ told them
Reflections on the readings for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude (October 28, 2020): EPH 2:19-22; PS 19:2-3,4-5; LK 6:12-16
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Like the other Apostles, they brought the message of hope and salvation out of Jerusalem into the larger world after the Holy Spirit came to them at Pentecost.
On this day we celebrate the feast of Saints Simon and Jude, two of the more unknown Apostles. Simon was called the Zealot so that he would not be confused with Simon Peter. The title could either refer to his religious zealousness or the possibility that he was a member of a Jewish sect that was devoted to ending the Roman occupation of their country. Jude, or Jude Thaddeus, was probably known as that rather than Judas in order to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot. Though we know almost nothing about their lives before or after their time with Christ, we do know that they were among that singular band He selected to accompany Him during the three years of His public mission. “(Jesus) called His disciples to Himself, and from them He chose Twelve, whom He also names Apostles: Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor” (Luke 6:13-16).
Like the other Apostles, they brought the message of hope and salvation out of Jerusalem into the larger world after the Holy Spirit came to them at Pentecost. Saints Simon and Jude are traditionally honored together because it was long believed that they were martyred in Persia on the same day. Jude is called patron of impossible causes and is still popular today for those who seek his aid in dealing with desperate situations. Relics of the two rest at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
