OCTOBER 28, 2017 : FEAST OF SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Lectionary: 666

Reading 1EPH 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 PsalmPS 19:2-3, 4-5

R. (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.

Alleluia See Te Deum

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 6:12-16

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

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Meditation: Jesus chose twelve apostles

What is God's call on your life? When Jesus embarked on his mission he chose twelve men to be his friends and apostles. In the choice of the twelve, we see a characteristic feature of God's work - Jesus chose very ordinary people. They were non-professionals, who had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages. Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power. 

The Lord Jesus works in and through us for his glory
When the Lord Jesus calls us to serve, we must not shrug back because we think that we have little or nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Is there anything holding you back from giving yourself unreservedly to God?

Are you hungry for God and his transforming power to change you? 
Wherever Jesus went the people came to him because they had heard all the things he did. They were hungry for God and desired healing from their afflictions. In faith they pressed upon Jesus to touch him. As they did so power came from Jesus and they were healed and made whole. Even demons trembled in the presence of Jesus and left at his rebuke. Jesus offers freedom from the power of sin and oppression to all who seek him with expectant faith. When you hear God's word and consider all that Jesus did, how do you respond? With doubt or with expectant faith? With skepticism or with confident trust? Ask the Lord Jesus to increase your faith in his saving power and grace.

"Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Inflame my heart with a burning love for you and with an expectant faith in your saving power. Take my life and all that I have as an offering of love for you, who are my All."

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Jesus chose fishermen and tax collectors to be apostles, by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.

"It says, 'He called his disciples, and he chose twelve of them,' whom he appointed sowers of the faith, to spread the help of human salvation throughout the world. At the same time, observe the heavenly counsel. He chose not wise men, nor rich men, nor nobles, but fishermen and tax collectors, whom he would direct, lest they seem to have seduced some by wisdom, or bought them with riches, or attracted them to their own grace with the authority of power and nobility. He did this so that the reasoning of truth, not the grace of disputation, should prevail." (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.44)

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FEAST OF SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, LUKE 5:12-16
(Ephesians 2:19-22; Psalm 19)

KEY VERSE: "He called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also called apostles" (v 14).
TO KNOW: Jesus spent the night in prayer before choosing twelve individuals to whom he would entrust the leadership of the Church. Only Luke said that Jesus bestowed the title of "apostle" on those whom he chose. The word "apostle" means one sent to speak and act in the name of Jesus Christ to proclaim the message of the gospel. Similar to the twelve founders of the Old Covenant, these Twelve Apostles would form the foundation of the New Covenant to be signs of the restored Twelve Tribes of Israel. The Twelve were eye-witnesses to the ministry of Jesus from the time of his baptism to his ascension, which guaranteed continuity and faithfulness to his teaching (Luke 1:1-4). Following Jesus' death, Peter, who always heads the list of apostles, stated the need to reinstate the number of the apostles to the full Twelve, and “the lot fell upon Matthias” (Acts 1:26). After Pentecost, the term "apostle" had a wider application than just the Twelve (1 Cor 1:1, 9:1, 15:5-9). They were, like Paul, ambassadors of Christ given authority of pastoral service over the communities. The episcopacy (Office of Bishop) traces its succession to the authority Jesus conferred on the first apostles. We are mirrors of the Twelve, flawed but graced human beings.
TO LOVE: Do I hand on the faith that I have received as the apostles did in their time?
TO SERVE: Saints Simon and Jude, pray for me that I might imitate your heroic examples.

FEAST OF SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES

Some ancient Christian writers say that Simon and Jude went together as missionaries to Persia, and were martyred there. If this is true, it explains, to some extent why they are usually put together. Simon is named in the lists of the apostles. He is called the Zealot because of his association with the Jewish independence movement devoted to violent insurrection described by the Jewish historian Josephus. However, there were many movements that were called Zealots, not all alike, and Josephus tells us that the movement he described did not arise until shortly before the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. (Jewish War 4,3, 9)
Jude (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot), also called Thaddeus meaning "Courageous", is the disputed author of a short epistle in the New Testament. He was the brother of James the Lesser. He was renowned for exorcising demons from pagan idols. It has been speculated by Eusebius of Caesaria (Church History, Book I) that Jude carried the burial shroud of Jesus to King Abgar of Edessa (Turkey). Saint Jude is often depicted carrying a circular image of Christ, the shroud folded up into a case with a window that shows just the face. It is said that when Jude opened up the image to cure the king, both Jude and the image became radiant with light; hence the traditional flame on Saint Jude’s forehead. According to traditional accounts, Jude was beaten to death with a club, then beheaded, in Persia, sometime before the end of the first century. Jude has in recent years become patron saint of lost causes.
Novena to Saint Jude
Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depths of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. Saint Jude, pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen.

www.togetherwithgodsword.com

Saturday 28 October 2017

Ss Simon and Jude.

Ephesians 2:19-22. Psalm 18(19):2-5. Luke 6:12-19.

Their message goes out through all the earth — Psalm 18(19):2-5.

‘Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and manure it.’

These words speak tellingly of Jesus’ hope, gentleness and patience. He nurtures, gives us time and space, invites us to change and grow, but leaves us free to respond. Only he can show us our true lifelessness and sinfulness. I suspect that my notion of my sinfulness and Jesus’ idea of it may be different. So often I do not show myself, or others, the hope and love he shows me. Lord, show me today where you call me to change, to growth, conversion and repentance

www.pray.com.au

ST. JUDE THADDEUS AND ST. SIMON THE ZEALOT, APOSTLES

St. Jude Thaddaeus

St. Jude, known as Thaddaeus, was a brother of St. James the Lesser, and a relative of Jesus. Ancient writers tell us that he preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Lybia. According to Eusebius, he returned to Jerusalem in the year 62 and assisted at the election of his brother, St. Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem.

He is an author of an epistle (letter) to the Churches of the East, in particular the Jewish converts, directed against the heresies of the Simonians, Nicolaites, and Gnostics. This Apostle is said to have suffered martyrdom in Armenia, which was then subject to Persia. The final conversion of the Armenian nation to Christianity did not take place until the third century A.D.

St. Jude was the one who asked Jesus at the Last Supper why He would not manifest Himself to the whole world after His resurrection. Little else is known of his life, but legend claims that he visited Beirut and Edessa.

He was beaten to death with a club, then beheaded post-mortem in 1st century Persia. His relics reside at Saint Peter's in Rome, at Rheims, and at Toulouse, France.

Saint Jude Thaddeus is not the same person as Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Our Lord and despaired because of his great sin and lack of trust in God's mercy.

St. Jude Thaddeus is invoked in desperate situations because his New Testament letter stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them.

Therefore, he is the patron of desperate situations, forgotten causes, hospital workers, hospitals, impossible causes, lost causes, and the diocese of Saint Petersburg, Florida. He is represented as bearded man holding an oar, a boat, boat hook, a club, an axe or a book. Nearly every image of him depicts him wearing a medallion with a profile of Jesus. He usually has a small flame above his head and he often carries a pen.

We remember him October 28 in Roman Church, and June 19 in Eastern Church.

St. Simon the Zealot

Little is known about the post-Pentecost life of St. Simon, who had been called a Zealot. He is thought to have preached in Egypt and then to have joined St. Jude in Persia. Here, he was supposedly martyred by being cut in half with a saw, a tool he is often depicted with. However, the 4th-century St. Basil the Great says he died in Edessa, peacefully.

www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint.php?n=541

LECTIO DIVINA: SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES - LUKE 6,12-19

Lectio Divina: 

 Saturday, October 28, 2017

Ordinary Time

1) Opening prayer

Almighty and ever-living God,
strengthen our faith, hope and love.
May we do with loving hearts
what you ask of us
and come to share the life you promise.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

2) Gospel Reading - Luke 6,12-19

Now it happened in those days that Jesus went onto the mountain to pray; and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.

When day came He summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; He called them 'apostles': Simon whom He called Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.

He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples, with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear Him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch Him because power came out of Him that cured them all.

3) Reflection

• Today the Gospel speaks about two facts: (a) to describe the choice of the twelve Apostles (Lk 6, 12-16) and (b) it says that an immense crowd wanted to meet Jesus to listen to him, to touch him, and to be cured (Lk 6, 17-19).

• Luke 6, 12-13: Jesus spends the night in prayer and chooses the twelve apostles. Before the final choice of the twelve Apostles, Jesus goes up to the mountain and spends the whole night in prayer. He prays in order to know whom to choose and He chooses the Twelve, whose names are given in the Gospels. And then they received the title of Apostles. Apostle means one sent, missionary. They were called to carry out a mission. The same mission that Jesus received from the Father (Jn 20, 21). Mark elaborates on the mission and says that Jesus called them to be with Him and to send them out on mission (Mk 3, 14).

• Luke 6, 14-16: The names of the twelve Apostles. The names of the Twelve are the same in the Gospels of Matthew (Mt 10, 2-4), Mark (Mk 3, 16-19) and Luke (Lk 6, 14-16) with little difference. Many of these names come from the Old Testament: Simon is the name of one of the sons of the Patriarch Jacob (Gn 29, 33). James (Giacomo) is the same name as Jacob (Gn 25, 26). Judas is the name of the other son of Jacob (Gn 35, 23). Matthew had the name of Levi (Mk 2, 14), the other son of Jacob (Gn 35, 23). Of the twelve Apostles, seven have a name which comes from the time of the Patriarchs: two times Simon, two times James, two times Judas, and one time Levi! That reveals the wisdom in the pedagogy of the people. By the names of the Patriarchs and the ‘Matriarchs’, given to the sons and daughters, people maintained the tradition of the ancients alive and helped their own children not to lose their identity. Which are the names that we give today to our sons and daughters?

• Luke 6,17-19: Jesus comes down from the mountain and people look for him. Coming down from the mountain with the twelve, Jesus encounters an immense crowd of people who were seeking to listen to His word and to touch Him because they knew that from Him came out a force of life. In this great crowd there were Jews and foreigners, people from Judaea and also from Tyre and Sidon. They were people who were abandoned and disoriented. Jesus accepts all those who seek him, Jews and Pagans! This is one of the themes preferred by Luke who writes for the converted Pagans.

• The persons called by Jesus are a consolation for us. The first Christians remembered and recorded the names of the Twelve Apostles and of the other men and women who followed Jesus closely. The Twelve, called by Jesus to form the first community with him, were not saints. They were common persons, like all of us. They had their virtues and their defects. The Gospels tell us very little about the temperament and the character of each one of them. But what they say, even if it is not much is a reason of consolation for us.

- Peter was a generous person and full of enthusiasm (Mk 14, 29.31; Mt 14, 28-29), but in the moment of danger and when taking a decision, his heart becomes small and he turns back (Mt 14, 30; Mk 14, 66-72). He was even Satan for Jesus (Mk 8, 33). Jesus calls him Pietra- Rock (Pietro). Peter of himself was not Rock, he becomes Rock (roccia), because Jesus prays for him (Lk 22, 31-32).

- James and John are ready to suffer with and for Jesus (Mk 10, 39), but they were very violent (Lk 9, 54). Jesus calls them “sons of thunder” (Mc 3, 17). John seemed to have a certain jealousy. He wanted Jesus only for his group (Mk 9, 38).

- Philip had a welcoming way. He knew how to get others in contact with Jesus (Jn 1, 45-46), but he was not very practical in solving problems (Jn 12, 20-22; 6, 7). Sometimes he was very naïve. There was a moment when Jesus lost patience with him: Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? (Jn 14, 8-9)

- Andrew, the brother of Peter and friend of Philip, was more practical. Philip goes to him to solve the problems (Jn 12, 21-22). Andrew calls Peter (Jn 1, 40-41), and Andrew found the boy who had five loaves and two fish (Jn 6, 8-9).

- Bartholomew seems to be the same as Nathanael. He was from that place and could not admit that something good could come from Nazareth (Jn 1, 46).

- Thomas was capable of maintaining his opinion for a whole week, against the witness of all the others (Jn 20, 24-25). But when he saw that he was mistaken he was not afraid to recognize his error (Jn 20, 26-28). He was generous, ready to die with Jesus (Jn 11, 16).

- Mathew or Levi was the Publican, a tax collector, like Zacchaeus (Mt 9, 9; Lk 19, 2). They were persons committed to the oppressing system of the time.

- Simon, instead seems belonged to the movement which was radically opposed to the system that the Roman Empire imposed on the Jewish people. This is why they also called them Zelots (Lk 6, 15). The group of Zelots succeeded in provoking an armed revolt against the Romans.

- Judas was the one who was in charge of the money of the group (Jn 13, 29). He betrayed Jesus.

- Nothing is said about James of Alphaeus and Judas Thadeus in in the Gospels  except the name.

4) Personal questions

• Jesus spends the whole night in prayer to know whom to choose, and He chooses these twelve. What conclusions do you draw from this gesture of Jesus?

• The first Christians remembered the names of the twelve Apostles who were at the origin of their community. Do you remember the names of the persons who are at the origin of the community to which you belong? Do you remember the name of some catechist or professor who was significant for your Christian formation? What do you especially remember about them: the content of what they taught you or the witness that they gave you?

5) Concluding prayer

The Lord is good,

his faithful love is everlasting,

his constancy from age to age. (Ps 100,5)

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