Daily Reflections

October 28, 2011
Saints Simon and Jude


Simon and Jude are the two most obscure Apostles. We don’t know anything about their background, only legends about their mission and how they gave their lives for Christ.

To distinguish Simon from Peter, he was called the “Zealot,” and to distinguish Jude (Judas) from Judas Iscariot, he got the nickname “Thaddaeus,” the “courageous.”

Simon “the Zealot.” Does it mean that he joined the patriotic terrorist group of Zealots who fought against the Roman occupation? Or does it mean that he was very zealous for God? We don’t know.

Jude is mentioned only once in the Gospel. During the Last Supper he interrupts Jesus’ discourse, asking him, “Lord, why do You intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

Behind these words I detect a great humility and concern for those who were not able to be with Jesus. This question might be one of the reasons that he is venerated as the ”patron saint of hopeless cases.” Another reason might be that many thought the Letter of Jude was written by him. We read that the faithful should persevere even in an environment of harsh and difficult circumstances — in desperate and hopeless cases. What have these two not well known Apostles to tell us today?

Simon the Zealot can inspire us to live more involved lives as Christians. Jesus needs zealous disciples today to counteract widespread secularism in the world. A more zealous (not aggressive or intolerant) attitude is desired to guarantee that our faith will be carried onto the next generation.

And St. Jude? In the eyes of God, we don’t have to be a genius, a beauty, an artist, a great leader or a pioneer. We only have to be solid, firm, concerned for people in need, and spread love around. These will not make headlines but that is sometimes more heroic than breaking an Olympic record. Burning zeal for the cause of Christ, that’s what Simon and Jude teach us. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

Reflection Question:

Do I desire to be known in the world around me or am I, like Simon and Jude, content to do quietly what God wants me to do?


Lord, thank You for these two obscure Apostles. They make me aware that I don’t have to be well-known in the world. What counts is that I love You, follow You and bear witness to You.

St. Godwin, pray for us.