Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Intention: For all who seek roles of leadership and advocacy in society, that their hearts and minds will be open to God’s wisdom and guidance.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 6:12-16
Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
From the Meditation on Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
These two holy Apostles had such an ardent zeal for the establishment and the progress of the Christian religion that nothing was able to stop them. All the threats that could be uttered against them and all the tortures they were made to endure could not prevent them from proclaiming Jesus Christ and making him known.
You will never do anything that can promote your own salvation and that of your neighbor without the world’s opposing it. Suffer these contradictions with courage; remain steadfast in the practice of what is right, in spite of all the obstacles you may encounter.
Prayer
Eternal Father, just as your Son called and gathered his first disciples on earth, each day of our lives you call us to follow you and to do your will. We pray that we will hear and answer you selflessly. Empower us to be your Son’s ambassadors, proclaiming the Good News through our work, our service, and our love for others, especially those who you have entrusted to our care. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.