Thursday, October 28, 2021
Feast for Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles
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Jesus go up the mountain to pray, and E spend the whole night dey pray to God. When day break, E call im disciple dem come meet am, and E choose Twelve from among dem, wey E also name Apostle dem… Luke 6:12
Simon and Jude dey among the special few wey Jesus Imself choose to be Im Apostle dem. The Simon wey we dey celebrate today no be the same person as Simon Peter, and the Jude wey we dey celebrate today no be the same person as Judas Iscariot. We no know plenty things about these two Apostle dem. The Gospel dem call Simon a zealot, and this fit mean say e belong to one group inside Judaism wey dey take more radical stand. Plenty people know Jude as the Patron Saint of Matter Wey Be Like Say Hope No Dey Again. Some people suggest say na because, among all the Apostle dem, na im the early Christian faithful often dey pray to last, because im name and Judas Iscariot name na the same, and to pray to Jude dey remind people of that betrayer. If na so e be, then, as God take arrange things, since Jude come be the last Apostle wey people dey pray to, e also come be the last hope for plenty people, and so, the patron saint for people wey their matter truly be like say hope no dey again.
One tradition talk say dem join Saint Simon and Saint Jude together for the Roman Canon, and dem also get the same feast day, because dem kill both of dem together on the same day for their faith, possibly for Syria, Lebanon, or Persia. But the true details of their missionary journey dem and how dem kill dem for their faith no clear. Still, the one thing wey sure about these Apostle dem na say dem be Apostle dem. Na our Lord choose dem and appoint dem as two of the first bishop dem for our Church, and E give dem the mission to carry the Gospel reach the ends of the earth.
As we dey see am today, to be one of those Twelve wey Jesus choose na privilege wey great well-well. The work wey dem do to establish the first Christian community dem don bring about our Catholic Church wey dey all over the world and wey be for everybody. Most likely, these men no know how their faithful service go take affect the world.
As we dey honour these two Apostle dem, we dey also remember say God call each one of us to go out and proclaim the Gospel reach the ends of the earth. Each of us dey do this one for the particular way wey match the calling and mission wey Christ put for our hand. God call each of us to make difference wey go last forever for the life of the people wey we dey serve. And if we remain faithful to our mission, we fit dey sure say the fruit of our apostolic service go continue to touch the life of people wey nobody fit count, until the world end.
Today, tink deep about how Jesus choose these two men and appoint dem as Apostle dem. As you dey do so, listen to God voice as E dey also speak to you. No take am as small thing to accept the mission wey Jesus give you. Tell am “Yes,” as you dey follow the example of these two Apostle dem, and know say your choice to serve our Lord this way no go only get great effect for your own life; e go also affect the life of plenty other people for all eternity.
My glorious Lord, You call these two ordinary men, Simon and Jude, to be Your Apostle dem. You fill dem with Your grace, teach dem with Your Word, and send dem go preach reach the ends of the earth. Abeg, my dear Lord, send me too to anybody wey You choose. Use me as Your instrument, and help me to always remain faithful and full of zeal, as I dey reach out to people wey need help, especially people wey faith and hope no dey for their life. Saint Simon and Saint Jude, pray for us. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint of Today – Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostle Dem
