Posted by The WORD in other words (2023) by Fr Pio Estepa SVD – Divine Word Seminary Tagaytay
October 28 — Feast of Saints Simon and Jude Thaddeus, the Apostles
When Jesus ascended into heaven, so goes a Catholic folktale, he surprised the archangel Gabriel along a celestial hallway. “Hey!” the latter exclaimed, “It was just three decades ago that I was down there on earth to announce your birth to your virgin mom. How come you’re back among us so soon?”
“Men nailed me to death on a cross.”
“So, you failed in your mission?”
“Well, three years ago, from among my faithful disciples, I chose Twelve whose minds and hearts I formed in accord with mine. It is to them that I have entrusted carrying on my mission.”
“But the Iscariot among them already betrayed you! Take out the zealot Simon at odds with the publican Matthew … and all you’re left with is but an illiterate bunch of fishermen. If they too fail you, do you have any Plan B?”
“None. I fully trust in each and all of them.”
Had this celestial chat really taken place, two millennia have meantime passed. Looking back, one can only marvel at how Jesus’ total trust in the Twelve has so far yielded such a rich harvest worldwide. Thanks to them, you and I now also count among his chosen ones… thus, “apostles” in our turn. That word apostle means one who is called and sent: called to intimate friendship with the Risen Christ and sent to share his Gospel to others.
Today we revere two apostles of whom so little is known―except that saints Simon and Jude went as a missionary pair to Persia, shared their faith with many, and died together there as martyrs. Before God’s eyes, their worth as persons is measured not by historical renown but by the apostolic impact on other lives. And so will our worth―mine and yours―be also judged.
