Saint Simon & Saint Jude, Apostles

Friends in Christ,

Greetings on this feast of Saint Simon and Sin Jude, Apostles. Saint Simon belonged to the extreme nationalist party among the Jews, before he answered our Lord's call to the Apostolate. Hence he is surnamed Simon the Zealot to distingish him from Saint Peter. Saint Jude, the brother of Saint James the less is called the "the brother of the Lord",because he was a cousing of the Lord according to the flesh. He is the author of the Catholic Epistles. We learn from tradition that these two Apostles preached the Gospel in Mesopotamia and Persia before ending their lives by martyrdom.

Both these Apostles knew what to expect regarding their calling to the Apostolate, as Jesus foretold them , reference to this can be found in Saint John 15, the verses 17-25. Their task was not an easy one, because they were told that they were hated by the world, just as the world hated Jesus. But it has been worth it - as Psalm 18, verse 5 tells us - Their utterance fills every land till their message reaches the end of the world.

Let us therefore give thanks to God, for the work done by Blessed Saint Simon and Saint Jude, for they have brought us the knowledge of the Name of Jesus, So we celebrate their everlasting Glory and by doing so, we will advance in virtue.

Thanks be to God.

Ed Bakker