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Thursday, October 28, 2004

Meditation
Ephesians 2: 19-22

Sts. Simon and Jude

You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. (Ephesians 2:19) Here is an amazing mystery! Consider the holy men and women whom we call the saints, and then think of the fact that we are no less valuable to God. Together with these saints, we are full members of God’s household. This is a fitting theme to reflect on today as we celebrate two saints—Simon and Jude—who might be considered champions of the common man.

We don’t know much about these two men, whose names are often listed side by side (Luke 6:15-16; Acts 1:13). Simon is called the Zealot, and in older traditions, he was sometimes given the humble title of Simon the Lesser, to distinguish him from Simon Peter. Jude is venerated as the patron saint of lost causes. This may stem from the fact that people were hesitant to ask for help from someone with a name so similar to that of Judas Iscariot and did so only as a last resort.

What are we to make of these two unknown saints? Luke tells us that Jesus spent “all night . . . in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12) before he chose them as apostles. Just as Jesus hand-picked Simon and Jude for a specific purpose, so has he hand-picked us. He was just as careful and prayerful in calling us as he was in choosing Simon, Jude, Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, and all the great saints. We are, after all, fellow citizens with all of them, both those recognized by the church and the millions of “anonymous” saints whose love for the Lord is known only to him.

God loves us as much as he loves any of his saints. He doesn’t call everyone to become an apostle or bishop or abbot, but he does call everyone to become “a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). We can all ask the Spirit to fill us and use us as powerfully as he did the first apostles. Abide in God and you will discover that your effectiveness in ministering to your family, your friends, and your parish will grow and bear marvelous fruit.

“Lord, bless all those you have called. May they see the dignity they have in your eyes. Open their hearts to the treasure you have prepared for them.”

One Bread, One Body

<< Thursday, October 28, 2004 >>

Sts. Simon & Jude

Ephesians 2:19-22

Psalm 19

Luke 6:12-16

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PASS IT ON

“He called His disciples and selected twelve of them to be His apostles.” —Luke 6:13

In the last few months (of fall 2002), three Ohio priests were selected to be bishops and ordained in large public celebrations. At each ordination, archbishops, bishops, and/or cardinals laid hands on these candidates in the prayer of ordination. One of the newly ordained bishops cried tears of joy as hands were imposed on him. Afterward, he spoke of the awe he felt at realizing that the hands laid on his head traced an unbroken chain of succession all the way back to Jesus’ first calling of His apostles.

The Lord renews the face of the Church (Ps 104:30) through the apostles and their successors, the bishops. The Church is built upon “the foundation of the apostles” (Eph 2:20; Rv 21:14). Jesus works closely through the apostles and their successors, the bishops — so much so that He assures us that if we listen to them, we listen to Him (Lk 10:16). However, if we discard or ignore the teaching of the magisterium of the Church, we disregard and reject Jesus Himself and God the Father (Lk 10:16).

Do you know the teaching of the Church? Have you ever studied the Catechism of the Catholic Church? How often do you read and study the Bible? Take advantage of the grace of this apostolic feast day. Listen to the ones who carry on the teaching ministry of Jesus (Lk 10:16). Decide today to daily read the book of the Church, that is, the Bible. Decide today to study the Catechism. Be built into the apostolic Church and “become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit” (Eph 2:22).

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the privilege of hearing You. May I hear You as You wish to be heard: through the teaching and authority of those You have sent.

Promise: “You are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God.” —Eph 2:19

Praise: With great power, Sts. Simon and Jude “bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 4:33).