Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

Today's Mass Readings

Isn’t it odd that from the beginning the Church has considered the Apostles as part of the very foundation of its existence, and yet in the case of most of them, like Simon and Jude, we know nothing more than their names. You would think that early church members would have recorded details of their lives and ministries.

I don’t think this is a case of lost manuscripts or an oversight of the early Church. I suspect, rather, that it represents an awareness that the real story of the Apostles is not found in their individual lives, as interesting and encouraging as those life stories would be. Rather, the real story of the apostles is captured in the Gospel passage we just read: they were chosen and sent out to preach the Good News, not individually but as a body.

The apostles are representatives of a new creation, a new Israel of 12 tribes, a new temple built on 12 foundation stones. Together, they represent Christ and the unity of all the diverse individuals gathered into this new temple, this new people, this new Body of Christ. Where the 12 are, there are all of us; there is Christ.

Reflection by Fr. Benedict Neenan, OSB