Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, two of the twelve pillars upon which our faith was built. Their feast reminds us that we are not isolated believers, wandering alone in faith, but part of a great spiritual household—“built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone” (Ephesians 2:20).
Saint Paul’s words to the Ephesians speak directly to our identity as Christians: we are no longer strangers and sojourners. Through baptism, we are made citizens of heaven, members of God’s household. This isn’t just a beautiful metaphor—it’s a living reality. Each of us, with our gifts, prayers, and acts of love, is a “brick” in the divine structure that God continues to build through His Spirit.
Simon and Jude may not be the most frequently mentioned Apostles, but their quiet faithfulness speaks volumes. Tradition tells us they carried the Gospel to the ends of the earth—Simon to Persia and Jude (often called Thaddeus) to Mesopotamia. Their message, like the Psalm says, “goes out through all the earth.” Even without fame or recognition, they built the Church by steadfast obedience and humble witness.
A Night of Prayer, A Mission for the World
The Gospel from Luke 6 offers a powerful image of Jesus spending the night in prayer before choosing His twelve Apostles. That moment was not random—it was rooted in communion with the Father. Jesus didn’t build His Church on impulse, but on prayerful discernment and divine purpose.
In that same spirit, Saints Simon and Jude responded to the call that emerged from Christ’s night of prayer. They remind us that our own calling—whatever form it takes—must also be born in prayer and sustained by it. We cannot build the dwelling place of God in the Spirit unless we remain connected to its cornerstone: Jesus Himself.
Living the Feast Today
As we honor Simon and Jude, let us reflect on what it means to be “built together into a dwelling place of God.”
- Unity: The Apostles remind us that faith is never individualistic. We are joined with believers across time and space in one living Church.
- Mission: Like Simon and Jude, we are called to carry God’s message into our world—our workplaces, homes, and communities.
- Prayer: Just as Jesus spent the night in prayer before sending out His Apostles, we must root all our actions in prayerful communion with God.
A Prayer for the Feast
Lord Jesus Christ,
You built Your Church upon the faith of the Apostles.
Through the prayers of Saints Simon and Jude,
help us remain strong and united in faith.
May our lives proclaim Your message
to the ends of the earth.
Amen.
