Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said: 'I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

‘If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, “Servants are not greater than their master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.....

When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.'

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today the Church celebrates the festival of Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles. On the various New Testament lists of the twelve men chosen by Jesus to be his Apostles they are usually numbers ten and eleven, and they are also known by other names during their lifetime. So sometimes Simon is called 'Simon the Zealot' or 'Simon the Cananaean', while Jude is called 'Jude son of James' or 'Judas son of James', or 'Jude Thaddeus'. This is presumably to distinguish them from Simon Peter, and Judas Iscariot.

Ancient sources mention that Simon and Jude travelled together, after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2.1-4), spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to Egypt and Persia. Because of their witness to the ministry of Jesus many were converted and became baptized. They possibly died as martyrs on the same day in Beirut, though St Basil (4th century CE) claimed that St Simon died peacefully in Edessa, and the Eastern Church accepts this. He is the patron saint of woodcutters and tanners. St Jude's body was finally buried in St Peter's Basilica in Rome, and he is the patron saint of lost causes - or the saint of last resort!.

What we should hold dear is that they were two of the eleven Apostles who took the Christian message around the world, and as Christians ourselves we should never forget what we owe to them.

Lord Jesus Christ,
we thank you that men like Simon and Jude,
responded to your message,
to follow You,
and travelled far and wide
to nurture new Christians.
Even though they faced danger and death,
they were willing to continue.
May we follow their example of faithfulness
and continue Your work on earth.
Amen.