Thursday October 28

Thirtieth Week In Ordinary Time

Saints Simon and Jude

 

Introduction

Little is known about these apostles. The nickname “Zealot” probably indicates the Simon had been among the anti-Roman activists before he became an apostle. Jude, brother of James and also called Thaddeus, asked Jesus after the Last Supper how Jesus could show himself to the world as Messiah without using force. Jesus answered him that the believers would accept him because of his love.

 

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
as we celebrate your apostles Simon and Jude,
we remember how your Son could build his Church
on weak and fallible people
and make these its firm foundations.
We pray with your Son
that our faith may remain unshaken
in your Church and in those who lead it.
As they struggle and grope,
let your Spirit fill them
with his wisdom and his fire.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

 

Reading 1: Eph 2:19-22

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.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

 

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 19:2-3, 4-5

(5a) Their message goes out through all the earth.

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

 

Gospel: Lk 6:12-16

At this time Jesus went out into the hills to pray, spending the whole night in prayer with God. When day came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them whom he called apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alpheus and Simon called the Zealot; Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who would be the traitor.

 

Intercessions

• For the pope, that he may lead the Church in faith, wisdom and mercy, we pray:
• For our bishops, that united with the pope they may see and attend to the great needs of the Church in our day, we pray:
• For those who are afraid to answer the call of God to follow Christ to serve the people of God, we pray:

 

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
in the name of Jesus, your Son,
your ministers and people offer to you
the memorial of his death and resurrection.
Let us, sinful as we are, be your holy people,
that we may bear witness to your name
and be a believable sign to all
that your Son lives
and that you are our mighty God and Father,
now and for ever.

 

Prayer after Communion

Holy God and Father,
to us, your people on the way,
you have let your Son speak to us
his uplifting, inspiring word
and give us his food of strength.
Renew your Church in its leaders and members,
that we may live as we believe
and raise in our world a prophetic voice
that speaks with credibility
of justice, truth and unity.
May thus the world believe in your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Blessing

Jesus entrusts his own mission to weak and fallible human hand. “Entrusts,” for he trusts them enough. With the help of the Holy Spirit we can do God’s work. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

Commentary

Jesus prays all through the night in the hills and then calls his own by name to him. Simon and Jude are chosen among the twelve. We know that Simon was called a zealot-one who was passionate about the coming of the messiah and the kingdom of God in justice for the people. Whether he belonged to the Zealot party (that was sometimes violent in attacking the Romans, engaged in subversive activities) or not, he is remembered for his strength in wanting God’s kingdom to come into the world. And then there is Jude, the son of James-really Judas, the same as the one who betrayed Jesus but this one remained faithful. Both died martyrs deaths after they came in the power of the Spirit to know the courage of the cross and allegiance to Jesus. Not much else is known about them except that they were from the beginning two of those who brought the good news to the poor. We too by our baptisms and confirmation have been called by name to walk with Jesus and to share the good news to the poor. Jesus has prayed for our faithfulness, our freedom and our obedience. Let us remember whose company we belong to and pray for one another.