Homily: Feast of St. Simon and Jude
Feast of St. Simon and Jude
Usually, we think of zealousness as a wonderful attribute to have. We like people to have zeal when they are promoting a cause. We know little about Simon other than it is said he is a zealot. There was a Zealot Party in Israel which wanted to overthrow Roman rule. It is not clear if Simon was a member of that party or whether being zealous was just an attribute he had.
Zealous people can be an asset to a cause. They can also be a problem. A zealot can decide that their cause is more important than any other consideration. Often, they are not very pragmatic. They will destroy institutions and people if they need to achieve a goal. Simon the zealot, we believe, tempered his zeal and served the Lord well.
Jude is the patron of impossible causes. Some say this is because no one wanted to ask for his intercession because his name was like the Apostle Judas. Believers throughout the centuries have testified to Jude’s powerful intercession. Medals with Jude’s image are given to people with all kinds of chronic diseases and terminal illnesses. St. Jude (the saint with the obscure story) brings comfort to numerous people.
Tradition also has it that Jude and Thaddeus went to Egypt after Jesus’ resurrection to promote the Gospel. They were martyred there together. Eventually their relics were brought back to St. Peter’s in Rome in the seventh or eighth century.
Zeal for the faith and hope in the face of impossible causes are two things that we need in the world today. I read that the number of people with depression is on the rise in our society. The number of people quitting their jobs is also growing as we continue to live through the COVID pandemic. Our situation seems impossible. What better time to ask the Apostles Simon and Jude to pray for us?
Reflection Questions:
- How do I feel about my faith today enthusiastic or pessimistic? Why do I feel the way I do?
- Do I sense that the prayers of the saints will help me with difficult situations? Which saint could be my best prayer partner?
Dear Parishioners,
Next week we will be celebrating All Souls Day. This is a day to mourn our dead loved ones. In a bygone time, there were certain periods of time set aside for mourning. When one lost a spouse there was a period of heavy mourning where a widow or widower would wear black. Then there was a period of light mourning where a spouse would wear clothing trimmed in black. And then a final period of mourning where subdued mourning would take place. A year and a day were considered an appropriate time to mourn.
Visits to the cemetery also took place periodically. Stopping by the grave of a loved one showed the affection that one had for them. I visited the graves of relatives this week. It is part of my yearly tradition for All Souls Day.
Another helpful tradition is to have a Mass said for a loved one who has died. Many times, this happens on their birthday or anniversary of death. It is consoling for relatives to gather and pray at such Masses.
We remember that such customs help people to express grief and process it. Perhaps we need to recapture the idea of mourning. Afterall, one of the beatitudes of Jesus was, “Blessed are they who Mourn for they shall be consoled.”
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark