Feast of Sts.Simon and Jude, Apostles ~ 28 October 2015

Sts.Simon and Jude intercede for us

The apostles Simon the Zealot and Jude Thaddeus son of James, shares the feast day because it is believed both were sent to Persia where they were martyred for the faith in the first century. St.Simon, a Zealot, a fighter for the freedom for the Jews from the Roman rule, to achieve a physical liberation from the tyranny and oppression of the Romans against the Jews. However, he left all that, when he followed Jesus, to be one of His chief disciples, the Apostles, and instead of fighting for the liberation of the body only and the Jews only, he became the agent of salvation for all mankind, and also for the salvation of both body and soul from sin and death. Meanwhile, St.Jude or St.Jude Thaddeus was also another Apostle of Jesus, often confused with Judas Iscariot the traitor of Jesus. However, while that Judas was unfaithful and got what he deserved, St. Jude or Judas Thaddeus remained faithful to the Lord, and he continued to preach the Good News together with St.Simon the Zealot. The 'Epistle of Jude' in the New Testament was written by St.Jude.

St.Simon is especially called upon when we face difficulty and contempt for our religious beliefs or the practice of our religion.

St.Jude is known around the world as the patron of causes despaired of� when everything seems hopeless, his prayers are often sought.

O God, who by the blessed Apostles have brought us to acknowledge your name, graciously grant, through the intercession of Saints Simon and Jude, that the Church may constantly grow by increase of the peoples who believe in you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading 1

Ephesians 2:19-22
Brothers and sisters:
You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.


Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel

Luke 6:12-16
Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles (Feast)

Simon is called the Zealot or the Canaanite, he was also known as Simon the Lesser, which distinguish him from Simon Peter. Jude is is known as Judas, son of James and has gain the reputation as Saint Jude Thaddeus the patron saint of hopeless causes. Jude is the brother of Saint James the Less. Saint Simon the Zealot, shares the feast with Saint Jude Thaddeus on 28 October, and both of them were among the disciples whom Jesus chose twelve to be be his apostles (Luke 6:12-16). Jude also had special gifts of the Holy Spirit which includes ordering the demons to leave the pagan idols in the temples he visited. Once they were gone, the idol images toppled and smashed to pieces, and this was a sign to all that Jude's God was the One True God. After Jesus' Ascension, Simon set for Egypt where he preached the Good News and then went on to Carthage, then into Spain and even into Britain. Upon his he returned to Jerusalem where he joined Jude on missionary journeys east to Syria, Mesopotamia and into Persia, today known as Iran.

O God, You made Your Name known to

us through the Apostles. 

By the intercession of Saint Simon and Saint Jude, 

let Your Church continue to grow with an

increased number of believers. 

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Monday, 28 October, 2013
Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles (Feast)

Reading

Ephesians 2: 19 - 22
19	So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20	built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
21	in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord;
22	in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Psalm

Psalms 19: 2 - 5
2	Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
3	There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
4	yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5	which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

Gospel

Luke 6: 12 - 16
12	In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God.
13	And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles;
14	Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,
15	and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,
16	and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.