Living Stones on a Holy Foundation

Voice over by Esther Han

Eph 2:19-22, Psalm: 18, Lk 6:12-19

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On this Feast of the Apostles Saints Simon and Jude, we celebrate two men whose names we know, but whose stories remain largely hidden in the background of the Gospel. They are among the Twelve, chosen personally by Christ, yet they did not leave behind the voluminous writings of a Paul or the foundational role of a Peter. And in this, their witness speaks powerfully to each of us: our call is not necessarily to fame, but to fidelity; our role is to be a living stone in the great edifice of the Church.

The Gospel of Luke sets the stage for their calling with a scene of profound importance. Before He chooses the Twelve, Jesus spends the entire night in prayer on the mountain. This is no casual decision. In communion with the Father, He deliberately selects these specific men, Simon the Zealot and Jude (also called Thaddeus). He calls them to Himself, to be His intimate companions, to be sent out to preach, and to have authority to heal. They are chosen not for their perfection, but for their potential to be configured to Christ. They are the foundation upon which the new Israel will be built.

This image of the foundation is taken up magnificently by St. Paul in his Letter to the Ephesians. He describes the breathtaking reality of our identity: “You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God.” How is this possible? Because we are “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.” Saints Simon and Jude are part of that foundational layer. They are among the first stones laid by Christ, the master builder. The entire structure, which includes each one of us, is “held together” and “grows into a temple sacred in the Lord,” a “dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

This is the great mystery we celebrate. We are not isolated believers. We are connected—to Christ the capstone, to the apostles as our foundation, and to one another as living stones. The faithfulness of Saints Simon and Jude, even in their obscurity, contributes to the strength and holiness of the whole Church. Tradition tells us they carried the Gospel to far lands—Persia, Armenia, perhaps even Mesopotamia—and ultimately gave their lives for Christ. Their mission, like that of all the apostles, was to be a foundation for others.

What does this mean for us? Most of us will live our lives in holy obscurity, like Simon and Jude. We may not be famous theologians or powerful leaders. But we are no less called. By virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation, we are incorporated into this same structure. We are living stones, chosen by Christ and placed precisely where we are meant to be for the building up of the whole Body.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once reflected that the Church’s unity and apostolicity are guaranteed by this foundation, reminding us that “the Church is not a simple association of volunteers… she has a structure that comes from the Lord.” Our role is to remain firmly attached to the capstone, Jesus Christ, through prayer, the sacraments, and fidelity to the teaching handed down from the apostles.

So, let us take comfort and courage from Saints Simon and Jude. Their feast day assures us that every member of Christ’s Body, no matter how hidden, is essential. Let us ask for their intercession, that we may be faithful, sturdy stones in God’s holy temple, supporting one another and radiating the presence of God who dwells among us. Amen.