Jesus calls us to follow him

Eph 2:19-22; Psalm: 18; Lk 6:12-19

Today’s Gospel recounts the calling of the twelve apostles by Jesus. In this passage, Jesus retreats to the mountain to pray alone, seeking guidance and strength from God before making an important decision. This act of prayer highlights the importance of seeking spiritual guidance and reflection before making important decisions in our own lives.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Simon and St. Jude. We honor these two apostles whom Jesus chose to be part of the twelve. Simon is also known as Simon the Zealot, while Jude is often referred to as Thaddeus. Simon and Jude, both chosen by Jesus to be part of the twelve, dedicatedly followed him and played important roles in spreading his message to the world. Their feast day serves as a reminder of their faithfulness and commitment to their mission of spreading the Gospel.

As we reflect on the calling of St. Simon and St. Jude, we are reminded of the importance of being open to God’s will in our own lives. Like the apostles, we are called to follow Jesus and share his message with others. This requires a deep spiritual reflection and discernment to understand what God is calling us to do. By seeking guidance through prayer and meditation, we can better understand our purpose and how we can fulfill it in service to others.

The example of St. Simon and St. Jude also teaches us the importance of unity and collaboration in spreading the Gospel. Despite their differences in background and temperament, the apostles worked together as a team, supporting each other and sharing their gifts and talents for the greater good. This reminds us that we are all called to work together as a community of believers, using our unique strengths to build up the Kingdom of God.

The feast of St. Simon and St. Jude is a time for reflection on the calling of the apostles and their dedication to spreading the Gospel. By following their example of seeking spiritual guidance, being open to God’s will, and working together in unity, we can better understand our own calling and how we can contribute to the mission of God. May the faith and commitment of Simon and Jude inspire us to live out our own calling in service to God and others.