SIMON AND JUDE

Today we celebrate the feast of SIMON and JUDE, apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus, we are told, after praying called the disciples and maned the twelve as apostles.

They went from following Jesus to now being ones sent forth ahead of Jesus to announce the goodness of the Father's merciful love.

The word apostles means to be "Sent."  It is often associated with sending a letter or a message.  You could say the apostle would be considered the modern day mail carriers.

The letter the sent is God' message to the world.

But each of us share in a similar mission.  We are also sent forth.  We also have received a message from Jesus to broadcast to the world.  Our life becomes that "letter of recommendation" that St Paul speaks of in his writings.

Do we consider ourselves a letter of recommendation for others for the world?


Also, Simon is called the zealot.  Jude's nameThaddeus means the brave one.  They had nicknames that indicated something of their character and perhaps something of want God used so that they could bring forth the message more clearly and profoundly.

Simon lived his passion for the chosen people.  Jude was willingly to go boldly in the face of opposition.  His brave heart empowered him through difficulties.

What would be the nickname others give u sin regard to living our our faith life an bringing forth the message of the goodness of the Father's merciful love?

STEWARD

Ephesians 3:2-12; Isaiah 12:2-3,4,5-6; Luke 12:39-48


To preach the inscrutable richness of Christ.  This is what St Paul says his purpose and mission in life was.

How about us? Do we preach with our lives the inscrutable richness of Christ?

Everything else pales in comparison to this one reality that holds all of reality together.

Jesus invites us to be prudent stewards in today's gospel, "Who then is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute food allowance at the proper time?  Blessed his that servant the master finds doing so upon his arrival,"


We are all stewards of the inscrutable richness of Christ.  For a moment we should remove the dross and the things that are of least important and direct our attention to that which matters most of all.

But first we must ask Jesus to reveal to us his richness in case we have forgotten or never truly experienced it.  It is the encounter that makes the mission possible.

Paul encountered the inscrutable richness of Christ and does was able to give to others what he first experienced.

We too must ask the Lord to reveal his richness to us.  Then we might become stewards of such beautiful grace to others.