Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles – Feast, Gospel: Luke 6:12-16
In today’s Gospel, Jesus spends the night in prayer before choosing His twelve Apostles, among whom are Simon and Jude. Their calling reminds us that God chooses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things through His grace. Saint Jude, also called Thaddaeus, is especially loved as the patron saint of desperate and seemingly hopeless causes. At the Last Supper, he asked Jesus: “Lord, what has happened, that you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” (John 14:22). This question reveals Jude’s desire that everyone should recognize Jesus. The Lord’s answer is profound: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him.” Jesus teaches that His presence is revealed not merely through extraordinary signs, but through a relationship of love, faith, and fidelity. This is particularly meaningful when we face situations that appear hopeless. A desperate situation does not mean that God is absent; it may become an opportunity to discover His presence in a deeper way. Saint Jude’s intercession encourages us never to lose hope, even when human possibilities seem exhausted. Yet hope does not mean expecting God to fulfil every desire exactly as we imagine. It means trusting that His love remains active even when we cannot understand His ways. Saints Simon and Jude remind us that the mission of the Apostles continues whenever we help others discover Christ’s presence through faithful love. No situation is beyond God’s love, and no human heart is beyond the reach of His grace. Let’s reflect: When I face situations that seem impossible or hopeless, do I allow fear and discouragement to overcome me, or do I trust, like Saint Jude, that Christ remains present and active through His love, even when I cannot see a solution?
Don Giorgio