Saints Simon and Jude Thaddeus, Apostles
Today the liturgy commemorates Saints Simon and Jude Thaddeus. Saints are a great gift of God toman, to each of us. They are role models, we can learn from them how to become saints
The Gospels mention St. Simon in the close circle of Jesus' disciples. He is perhaps the least known of them. The Gospels only mention him three times. Matthew and Mark nicknamed him Canaanite (cf. Mt 10: 4; Mk 3:18). That is why some Church Fathers assumed that he was from Cana of Galilee and was the bridegroom at whose wedding Christ the Lord performed the first miracle. Contemporary exegesis, however, sees the word Canaanite as meaning "zealous" as it can also be translated. Luke gives Simon the nickname Zelotes, that is, zealous (cf. Lk 6:15). A special emphasis among the apostles that Simon was zealous may mean that he actually stood out among them with righteousness and austerity in keeping the Mosaic law and the customs of the nation.
Simon the Canaanite is in all four catalogs of the Apostles, is always mentioned alongside St. James and St. Jude Thaddeus, Christ's "brothers", that is, His cousins (cf. Mt 10: 4; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:15; Acts 1:13). According to the Gospel of St. Matthew, who seems to be sure of this (Mt 13:55).
In the Christian tradition too, we have little information about Simon. He was to be the brother of the Apostles: James the Less and Jude Thaddeus. Being a relative of the Lord Jesus, according to others, he was to be a bishop at the sit of Jerusalem after James the Elder and James the Less as the third bishop and died there during Emperor Trajan, when he was already over a hundred years old, He died cut in half with a saw
About the life of Jude, we know almost nothing. He was nicknamed Thaddeus, meaning "Brave" (Mt 10: 3; Mk 3:18). We do not know why the Evangelists call him that. He was the brother of St. James the Less, the Apostle (Mt 13:55), therefore he is also called Judas the son of James, (Lk 6:16; Acts 1:13). We do not know why Origen, and other church writers after him, also nicknamed Jude Thaddeus Lebbaeus. It could have something to do with the heart (the Hebrew word leb means heart) or it could come from a hill in Galilee called Lebbo. He was one of Jesus' relatives. His mother was probably Mary of Clopas, who is mentioned in the Gospels.
The name of Jude, listed further down in the catalog of the Apostles, suggests his later entry into the group of disciples. It was he who asked Jesus at the Last Supper: " Master, [then] what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?" (cf. Jn 14:22) " It is therefore reasonable to suppose that joining the group of the Apostles, Jude was initially motivated by the prospect of making a career with Christ.
Jude is the author of one of the New Testament epistles. In it he calls himself Jacob's brother (Jude 1). It appears from the letter that he was probably an educated man. He wrote this letter before A.D. 67, because he borrows some passages and words even from St. Peter. After Pentecost, Jude preached the Gospel in Palestine, Syria, Egypt, and Mesopotamia; he made some of his missionary journeys with St. Simon. Some traditions say that they were martyred together. Others say that Simon was killed in Jerusalem and Jude Thaddeus probably in Lebanon or Persia.
So, what can we, who live in the 21st century, learn from Saints Simon and Jude Thaddeus?
A holy man is like a stained-glass window in a church. When the sun shines, you can see its beauty, colors, images. The sun is the Lord God, whom man invites to his life and lives by his commandments. When man, on the other hand, lives in sin, his beauty is not seen. Just like a stained-glass window at night when there is no sun.
Saints Simon and Jude Thaddeus were undoubtedly people who responded to Christ's invitation to follow Him. They invited him into their lives and allowed the words of Christ to transform their lives and that the light of Christ shone through them to other people. By the power of God's Word, they worked many miracles.
So, what can we, who live in the 21st Century, learn from Saints Simon and Jude Thaddeus? Saint Jude Thaddeus explained at the beginning of his mission that prayers are fulfilled according to our faith. The spirit of doubt tries to lead astray even the most sincere petitions made to God. The Apostle has proved many times that even when hope begins to fade, help and salvation can always come from God. Many people were able to perceive a ray of God's light, that is to experience grace or miracles through the intercession of the Apostle Jude. During the Last Supper, Jude Thaddeus expressed his desire for Christ the Lord to reveal himself to all people. In this way, he introduced himself as a saint to whom anyone can turn in case of emergency. The Lord met his expectations, by glorifying the name of his disciple. Shining with the power to ask for extraordinary miracles, Jude Thaddeus is our advocate in all difficult and desperate situations that are considered hopeless from a human point of view.
There are no hopeless things with God and everything is possible.
Jude Thaddeus is a powerful patron in difficult times. It can be said that he is a patron for today, when people begin to live far away from God, not letting the light of the Gospel shine in their lives. It is stated that whoever prays in the most difficult circumstances of life prays to St. Jude Thaddeus, will surely receive help. If he does not receive the grace he is asking for, he will certainly receive strength in his soul so that the cross that he has in his life, with the help of God's grace, may be brought to the end.
Simon was zealous in his faith. He had God's righteousness in him, he was animated by the need for justice. He toughened his conscience by relying on the Mosaic law. He loved his nation. From Saint Simon we can and should learn to be zealous to keep God's commandments and words that Jesus left us. We should fortify our consciences based on God's Word, and fight for justice, care for and love our country.
Today let us ask God through the intercession of Saint Jude Thaddeus, that we never lose hope, even in a hopeless situation, but only trust in God. And through the intercession of Saint Simon, let us ask for the grace of zeal in faith. May the holy Apostles intercede for us with God, that we may persevere in faith to the end, even when it is necessary to lay down our lives for Christ, as they did.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george