Breaking the Word

Feasts of Sts. Simon and Jude, Thursday – 28^th October 2019 — Gospel: Lk 6,12-16

Called unto Himself

Today the church celebrates honoring the memory of two of the twelve apostles. In the Scriptures, little is known of Jude and Simon except that their names are included in the list of the twelve apostles. Jude is mentioned in the list by Luke, whereas Matthew and Mark mention Thaddeus. Therefore, Jude or Thaddeus are the same person. Simon is mentioned in the list by all the four evangelists. In two of the Gospels, he is referred to as “a zealot” but the Scriptures do not speak of his activities as a zealot. This title probably indicates that he belonged to a Jewish sect that represented an extreme of Jewish nationalism. Jude is regarded as patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes. Simon is identified as a man of great religious zeal. Tradition believes that they preached the Gospel in Syria, Mesopotamia and Persia, where they had been sent.

In Luke’s version of the direct calling of the twelve, the three terms “the disciples,” “the twelve,” and “apostles” appear in one verse (Lk 6,13). These terms are not synonymous and do not refer to the same groups. From the larger group of the ‘disciples,’ he chose ‘twelve’ and designated them to be ‘apostles.’ The Greek word ‘apostolos’ refers to someone who is “sent out,” an envoy or an ambassador to continue the work of Jesus. Therefore, the apostles are called to be Jesus’ ambassadors to people. Like others, Simon and Jude responded generously to Jesus’ invitation to join him in his holy and healing work. Jesus called them out of the crowd “to himself” (Lk 6,13) for a mission that would include founding or building his Church and dying one day for the faith. He drew them close to befriend them, to teach them and to train them for their mission. Jesus has given a unique mission to each one of us. The only way to accomplish His mission is to allow Him to draw us “to himself”.  A disciple who remains close to Jesus will be sure to accomplish His will.

30^th Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 27^th October 2022 — Gospel: Lk 13,31-35

God’s Yearning

By his lament over Jerusalem, Jesus expressed his desire to gather the people of Jerusalem as a hen gathers her brood. The architect Antonio Barluzzi built a church on the site where Jesus wept over Jerusalem, which is in the shape of a large teardrop. It is called Dominus Flevit (The Master wept). The mosaic on the altar that has been placed in front of a large window overlooking the ancient Jewish Temple mount is the image of a hen gathering her brood under her wings. Barluzzi’s expression of “stones cry out” (Lk 19,40) is a profound reality that God yearns for our love. In other words, Jesus wanted to offer his love and protection, but the people of Jerusalem refused and rejected him.  However, God’s yearning is more intense than what a mother or father feels when a child goes astray, because God’s love is perfect. Jesus expressed God’s yearning when he said, “and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.” This is what God did by sending his Son to redeem us.