May the Lord give you peace and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is 28th October 2021. We celebrate the feast day of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles. The 10th and 11th apostles are in the list of twelve.
We reflect on Ephesians 2:19-22 and the Gospel of Luke 6:12-19. Simon, the Canaanite and zealous one. Jude or “Judas, son of James” commonly known as Thaddaeus, the patron of hopeless cases or the saint of the last resort. His name was that of the traitor Judas Iscariot, and so he was not that popular among people. When the faithful have tried all that they could, they come to St. Jude, the saint of the impossible. “Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, a brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?” (Mk. 6:3).
After Marilyn Monroe an American actress, model, and singer had taken her life, her husband, Joe DiMaggio, was asked, “Why did Marilyn take her life?” His answer was, “She had everything to live with but nothing to live for.”
Less known does not mean less important. Regardless of their popularity, they are the apostles and chosen by the Lord to be the messengers of His Word. Simon and Jude had Jesus to live for all throughout their lives.
In God’s house, there is no strangers and aliens. We are all the fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God. Yes, we are set apart by God to love the other in a special way as God loved us. “In him you are being built into this Temple, to become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.” In reality, do we believe and live? Even in our families, religious and basic ecclesial communities, we consider so many people as strangers, slaves, and aliens. We are called to be the holy temple of the Holy Spirit. As we reflect and it is by living a life that does not override the ambition and aspirations of the other.
The Church is not built on a theory or modern idea but on the faith and traditions of the Apostles. Through the example and intercessions of Simon and Jude may we move above indifference to making difference, division, and disharmony to unity in diversity.
The Gospel teaches us as Jesus chose the twelve for the ministry, life lessons such as all life-changing choices and moments require intense prayers.
The author of the books the 8th Habit and the First Things First and many more, Stephen R Covey told once, “Life isn’t about accumulation. It’s about contribution.”
In what way, can I contribute to the family, the community and the Church I belong to? May the Lord bless you to live for the Lord by contributing to every occasion of service.