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.
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.
Meditation
Brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ, let us give thanks to God for the gift of a new day.
Who am I? Why am I here? At one time or another in our lives, we have all asked ourselves these existential questions. Through this passage, Saint Paul, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, gives us a hopeful answer: we are “fellow citizens with the saints,” we are “members of God’s household,” and in Christ, we are “parts of one building, becoming a holy dwelling place for God through the Holy Spirit.”
By revealing our identity as members of Christ’s family, this passage also reminds us of our mission as stones in the building of God’s dwelling place and therefore invites us to take two concrete actions:
The first is to be where we are meant to be, that is, within God’s family, as members of a Christian community. Faith is not lived out alone, in the privacy of our personal relationship with God; it is also nourished by fellowship, shared prayer, listening to the Word, and mutual support. Faith unites us with others so that together we may build God’s dwelling place. We need one another, with our differences, our gifts, and our fraternal love.
The second is to take action wherever we find ourselves. Today, many Christians are content simply to be present. At Mass, in their families, at their workplaces, and in their communities, they are physically present but do nothing to help God’s Kingdom come to that place through them. They leave all decision-making and action to others. Yet everyone has a place and a mission to fulfil: visiting a sick person, offering words of encouragement, providing material assistance, or firmly refusing to take part in an injustice, among other things. Beyond simply being present, a member of God’s family actively contributes to the growth of that family through concrete actions.
Now, let us ask ourselves just one question: do we truly recognise ourselves as members of God’s family, or do we behave like strangers, merely watching from the sidelines?
Let Us Pray
Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for welcoming me into God’s family despite my weaknesses, mistakes, and unfaithfulness. You have called me to be a living stone in the building of Your dwelling place. Forgive me for all the times I have behaved like a mere spectator in Your Church, waiting for others to take action and choosing my own comfort over serving my brothers and sisters. Make me a strong stone, an instrument of peace, a builder of unity, and a witness to Your love. May my actions help build a Church that is more fraternal, more welcoming, and more faithful to the Gospel.
Amen.
Intercession
We pray for Christians who are present in the Church but struggle to become actively involved in community life, as well as for those who have drifted away from the community because they feel rejected, wounded, useless, or forgotten.
May the Lord renew in them the joy of belonging to His family. May He help them discover that everyone has a place in His house and that every contribution, however small or discreet, can bear fruit.
Virgin Mary, intercede for them and for us!
Spiritual Exercise
Today, let us offer our help with a community activity and then choose an activity to take responsibility for on a regular basis for the growth of the community. Throughout the day, let us repeat this sentence several times: “I am a member of God’s family. I am a living stone in His dwelling place.”
BEBISSI Stéphanie (Community of the Disciples of the Living Christ)
