Tuesday,
28 October 2025 – XXX Week in Ordinary Time
Feast of Saints Simon and
Jude, Apostles
Mass Readings: Eph 2:19–22 | Ps 19 | Lk 6:12–19
Key Verse to Meditate: “Now during those days he went out to the
mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God” (Lk 6:12).
Dear Brothers and Sisters
in Christ,
Today, the Church
celebrates the feast of two apostles — Saints Simon and Jude. Though we
know little about their personal lives, the Gospel reading lists their names
among the chosen Twelve. Both were specially called and set apart by Jesus
Christ to share in His mission.
Tradition holds that these
two zealous apostles preached the Gospel in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia,
laying down their lives for the faith. Saint Jude is venerated as the patron
saint of desperate and hopeless causes, while Saint Simon, known as the
Zealot, was a man of fervent faith and missionary courage. Their example
reminds us that God often works through ordinary people who respond with
extraordinary faith to His call.
The First Reading
In the first reading, Saint
Paul reminds the Ephesians — and us — that we are members of the household
of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ
Jesus Himself as the cornerstone (Eph 2:19–20).
The Church, therefore, is
not a mere human institution but a living temple of the Holy Spirit,
where each believer has a role. The apostles laid the foundation through their
preaching, witness, and martyrdom. The prophets of the Old Testament pointed
toward Christ, and the apostles of the New Testament proclaimed Him to the
nations. Together, they form the pillars of the faith we now inherit.
As Saint Paul says, the
Church is both the Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit
— two inseparable realities. We cannot belong to Christ without belonging to
His Body, the Church. In Christ, every believer is joined together and grows
into a holy dwelling for God.
The Gospel Reading
The Gospel of Luke presents
Jesus spending the whole night in prayer before choosing the Twelve
Apostles. “He went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in
prayer to God.” (Lk 6:12)
This moment reveals Jesus’
deep communion with the Father. Before every major decision in His mission, He
prayed — not briefly or casually, but intensely and wholeheartedly. The choice
of the apostles was not made on human grounds but discerned through prayer.
After this night of prayer,
Jesus chose the Twelve — those who would be His companions, share in His
ministry, and continue His mission after His resurrection. The apostles were
not perfect men; they were ordinary people — fishermen, tax collectors, and even
a zealot. Yet, through prayer, Jesus saw their hearts and entrusted them with
the greatest mission in history: to proclaim the Kingdom of God.
The Gospel also notes that
people from Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal regions of Tyre and Sidon came to
hear Jesus and to be healed. They tried to touch Him because “power came out
from Him and healed them all” (Lk 6:19). That power flowed from His
intimate union with the Father in prayer. The apostles were called to share in
that same power — through the Word of God and the ministry of healing.
Prayer and mission are
inseparable. One who kneels before God becomes a channel of grace and
healing for others. Saints Simon and Jude exemplify this truth — men of
prayer who became courageous witnesses of Christ’s saving power.
Points for Personal
Reflection
- Do I
realize that my faith is built upon the foundation laid by the apostles?
- Does
the witness of the apostles inspire me to live my faith with greater zeal
and commitment?
- Do I
spend quality time in prayer before making important decisions?
- Do I
allow my communion with God to strengthen my service and mission in daily
life?
Conclusion
The feast of Saints Simon
and Jude reminds us that the Church stands firm on the faith of the apostles
— men who were chosen, transformed, and sent forth through the power of prayer
and the Spirit. Like them, we are called not only to believe but to bear
witness.
Jesus prayed before
choosing them, and through prayer, He continues to choose us each day for His
mission. Saints Simon and Jude responded with courage, fidelity, and zeal —
even unto death.
Let us ask their
intercession that we, too, may remain faithful disciples and apostolic
witnesses in our time.
May our prayer always lead us to mission, and our mission always be sustained
by prayer.
“Lord, make us living
stones in Your holy Church, built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, with Christ as our cornerstone.”
