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Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

Reading 1 : Ephesians 2:19-22

Brothers and sisters:
You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5

R. (5a) Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

Alleluia See Te Deum

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.

Message from the Readings

Today’s feast proclaims a powerful truth:
God builds His Church through ordinary people who respond to His call — and He desires to build each of us into a living dwelling of His presence.
• Ephesians reminds us that we belong — we are part of God’s household.
• The psalm shows that God’s message reaches the whole world.
• The Gospel reveals that Jesus chooses, forms, and sends apostles after deep prayer.
The message is clear: You are chosen, you belong, and God is building something sacred in you.

Reflection for the Day

1. “You are no longer strangers.” (Ephesians 2)
   Paul’s words are deeply comforting.
   In Christ:
   • we are not outsiders,
   • we are not forgotten,
   • we are not wandering without purpose.
   We are members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the Apostles.
   Christ is the capstone — the One who holds everything together.
   And we are being built into a dwelling place of God.
   This means your life is not random. God is shaping you, forming you, and fitting you into His divine plan.
2. “Their message goes out through all the earth.” (Psalm 19)
   The psalm celebrates the universal reach of God’s truth.
   Creation itself proclaims His glory:
   • day speaks to day,
   • night whispers to night,
   • the heavens declare His majesty.
   Just as the Apostles carried the Gospel to the ends of the earth, God calls us to let our lives proclaim His goodness.
3. Jesus chooses the Twelve. (Luke 6) Before choosing the Apostles, Jesus spends the entire night in prayer. This reveals two things:
   1. The mission of the Church begins in prayer.
   2. The Apostles were chosen intentionally, personally, lovingly.
      Simon the Zealot — once passionate in political resistance. Jude — often associated with hope in desperate situations.
      Both were ordinary men, transformed by Christ, sent to carry His message to the world.
      Their feast reminds us:
      God can use anyone — any background, any story — to build His Kingdom.

Living This Word Today

Today’s readings invite us to three movements:

1. Remember that you belong.
   You are part of God’s household — chosen, loved, and included.
2. Let your life proclaim God’s glory.
   Like the heavens, let your words and actions reflect His goodness.
3. Say “yes” to God’s call.
   Like Simon and Jude, offer your ordinary life to Christ and let Him build something extraordinary through you.
   Let today be a day of belonging, mission, and hope.

 Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, thank You for calling me into Your household and building me into a dwelling place of Your Spirit.
Through the intercession of Saints Simon and Jude, give me courage to follow Your call and faith to trust Your plan.
Let my life proclaim Your glory and carry Your message to those around me.
Make me steadfast, hopeful, and faithful as You build Your Kingdom in and through me.
Amen.