Dey public domain, through Wikimedia Commons
_-_WGA01299.jpg){kind=link}
October 28: Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles—Feast
First Century
Patron Saint of people wey dey dress leather, people wey dey cut wood, and people wey dey tan animal skin (Simon); matters wey no hope dey again and hospital workers (Jude)
Canonization before Congregation time
Liturgical Colour: Red
Version: Full – Short
Podcast channels:
Apple – Spotify – iHeart – Audible
Quotation:
For those days, e go mountain to pray, and e spend the whole night dey pray to God. When day break, e call im disciples come meet am, and from among dem e choose Twelve, wey e also name apostles: Simon, wey e name Peter, and im brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon wey dem dey call Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, wey later become traitor. ~Luke 6:12–16
Make we reflect: Today, the Church dey honour Saint Simon and Saint Jude, two of the Twelve Apostles wey our Lord choose. Dem be two of the first bishops wey our Lord use establish His Church, and every bishop, priest and deacon come from their spiritual line.
Na very little we know about these two Apostles, apart from the small things wey the New Testament mention about dem, and even those ones dey cause small confusion. Both of dem dey among the Twelve wey Jesus name Apostles: Matthew 10:2–4; Mark 3:16–19; Luke 6:13–16; Acts 1:13.
The Simon wey we dey celebrate today no be Simon Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, but na “Simon the Cananean” (Matthew and Mark) and “Simon the Zealot” (Luke and Acts). Both names mean the same thing. “Cananean” no refer to the Land of Canaan; rather, na translation of one Aramaic word wey mean “person wey get zeal.”
E good to notice say Jesus choose different kinds of people as His Apostles. Maybe the clearest difference na the one between Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector. As zealot, Simon for hold im Jewish identity strong, and e for stand firm against the way Romans dey oppress dem and collect tax from dem. E for dislike Matthew straightaway, because Matthew don serve the Romans before by collecting tax from the Jews for dem. As Jesus no choose Apostles wey all dey think the same way, e show say He dey include everybody. Jesus no get one kind of person wey He prefer pass others. Culture, ways of thinking or social class no limit am. Im love for im nation no mean say e want separate im people from others or keep dem away from others. E care about everybody, no matter where dem come from or wetin dem don experience, and His Apostles show this truth. Jesus fit don choose Simon because He want reach people wey hold their Jewish heritage, traditions and beliefs strong, and Simon fit reach those people.
Dem refer to Jude as “Judas son of James” (Luke and Acts) and “Thaddeus” (Matthew and Mark). The only other place wey we sure say dem mention Jude na for John’s Gospel, during the Last Supper, where dem call am “Judas, no be Iscariot…” (John 14:22). During the Last Supper, Jesus use compassion teach His Apostles say E go soon leave dem, but make dem get courage and wait for His Advocate, the Holy Spirit. Jude, wey show say e dey confused small, ask Jesus, “Master, [then] wetin happen wey make You go reveal Yourself to us and no be to the world?” For another way, Jude dey ask Jesus why He no just show everybody say He be God, for clear way wey go convince dem, so that all of dem go believe in am. Jesus’ answer get mystery, but the main thing wey E point out be say belief in am must come through the gift of faith wey God dey inspire, and say obedience to that faith and to God’s will go bring union with God.
Two of the Gospel dem also mention Simon and Jude as Jesus brother dem: “No be the carpenter pikin be this? No be Mary be im mama name, and James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas be im brother dem?” (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). But most scholars today believe say these two no be the same people as the Apostle dem, but na Jesus cousin dem. For that time, people dey call their cousin brother or sister. E fit be say the Judas wey dem call Jesus brother na im write the Letter of Jude for New Testament, no be the Apostle. But people still dey debate this matter, and even Pope Benedict XVI, for one General Audience for 2006, point to the tradition wey talk say na the Apostle really write the Letter of Jude. If na so, then e fit be say these two Jude na one and the same person.
About how dem die, nothing dey known apart from wetin dey inside apocryphal writings wey person no fit rely on, like The Suffering of Simon and Jude, and other writings from the fourth century and later. One of the traditions wey people know well na say Simon and Jude travel go Persia to preach the Gospel, and dem kill both of dem there for the year 65. According to tradition, dem use saw cut Simon into two, and dem beat Jude with heavy stick. For holy pictures, dem often dey hold the things wey dem use kill dem. Other traditions talk say dem do their ministry for Armenia, Beirut, Lebanon, Roman Britain, Egypt, and/or Samaria, and say dem die by arrow, crucifixion, or even peaceful death.
The Letter wey tradition dey attribute to Saint Jude the Apostle na short letter wey full of strong feeling. Inside am, e warn all Christians against immoral life and false teaching wey dey try enter the early Church. Some people suggest say na because of this strong appeal dem name am Patron Saint of Matters Wey No Get Hope. Another tradition talk say because Jude get the same name as Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, people no dey often ask Saint Jude to intercede for dem. But after dem don ask every other Apostle and saint to intercede, people for the early Church go turn to Saint Jude as their last hope. Plenty ancient traditions talk say Saint Jude don bring about many miracles through the centuries.
As we dey honour these Apostle dem, wetin we know for sure na say dem play important part for the early Church. As some of the first bishop dem, dem carry the holy responsibility to pass on the Sacraments and Jesus teaching to the Church wey just dey begin. One day for Heaven, we go clearly see the fruit of their pastoral ministry. Today, we dey rejoice over wetin we never fully know, as we trust say their life give God great glory and win salvation for many souls.
Prayer: Saints Simon and Jude, both of una get the privilege to learn from Jesus Himself. After E ascend go Heaven, una dey among the first people wey receive the Holy Spirit and ordination as bishop dem. God then use una to go out and fulfil Im command to carry the Gospel reach the ends of the earth. Abeg, pray for me, make I understand my mission inside the Body of Christ more fully, and make I fulfil my duties with care and love. Saints Simon and Jude, pray for me. Jesus, na You I trust.
Dem take dis reflection from:
Saint Dem and Feast Dem for di Liturgical Year
Volume One–Four
Read more:
Catholic Saint Dem & Feast Dem
All di Saint Dem for di Liturgical Year
(Short Version)
October 28: Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles—Feast
First Century
Patron Saint of people wey dey finish leather, people wey dey cut wood, and people wey dey turn animal skin to leather (Simon); matters wey no get hope and hospital workers (Jude)
Canonization before Congregation start
Today, the Church dey honour Saints Simon and Jude, two of the Twelve Apostle dem of our Lord. Dem be two of the first bishop dem wey Jesus use establish Im Church, and na from dem all bishop, priest, and deacon dem come for succession. Na very little we know about these two Apostle dem, apart from their names wey dey among the Twelve Apostle dem for Matthew 10:2–4; Mark 3:16–19; Luke 6:13–16; and Acts 1:13.
The Simon wey we dey honour today na “the Cananean” (Matthew and Mark) and “the Zealot” (Luke and Acts). The two names get the same meaning. “Cananean” na translation of one Aramaic word wey mean “person wey get strong zeal.”
Jesus Apostle dem show say E get interest for people from every background and experience. Simon the Zealot for hold im Jewish identity tight and stand strong against Roman oppression and tax. Matthew don serve the Romans by collecting tax from the Jews. Jesus no let cultural ties, nationality, ideas about how society suppose be, or social class limit Am.
Dem call Jude “Judas, James son” (Luke and Acts) and “Thaddeus” (Matthew and Mark). The only other place wey dem mention Jude na for John Gospel during the Last Supper, where dem call am “Judas, no be the Iscariot…” (John 14:22). When Jesus tell Im Apostle dem say E go soon leave dem, Jude ask Jesus, “Master, [then] wetin happen wey make You go reveal Yourself to us and no be to the world?” Jude dey ask Jesus why E no clearly show everybody say E be God, for way wey go convince dem, so that dem go believe in Am.
Two of the Gospels get one passage wey call Simon and Jude Jesus brothers: “No be the carpenter son be this? No be Mary be im mama name, and no be James, Joseph, Simon and Judas be im brothers?” (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). Most scholars believe say these two no be the same people as the Apostles, but na Jesus cousins, because for that time, people dey normally call their cousin brother or sister.
Apocryphal sources wey person no fit rely on, like The Suffering and Death of Simon and Jude and other sources from the fourth century and later, na dem give us wetin we know about how Simon and Jude die. One tradition talk say the two travel go Persia to preach the Gospel, and dem kill dem there for AD 65. According to tradition, dem use saw cut Simon into two, and dem beat Jude with heavy stick. For sacred art, dem often show dem as dem dey hold the things wey dem use kill dem. Other traditions talk say dem do their ministry for Armenia, Lebanon, Roman Britain, Egypt, and/or Samaria, and say dem die through arrows, crucifixion, or even peaceful death.
The Epistle wey tradition say Saint Jude the Apostle write na short letter wey full of strong feeling, wey dey warn Christians against immoral life and heresy. Some people suggest say dem name am Patron Saint for Matas Wey Hope No Dey because of the way e take plead with strong feeling. Another tradition talk say because Jude and Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, get the same name, people no dey often ask Jude to pray for dem. But after people for the early Church don beg every other Apostle and saint to pray for dem, dem go turn to Saint Jude as their last hope. Through the centuries, people don credit many miracles to Saint Jude.
Saints Simon and Jude, una get the special favour to learn from Jesus Himself. After His Ascension, una dey among the first people wey receive the Holy Spirit and ordination as bishops. God use una to go out and fulfil His command to spread the Gospel reach the ends of the earth. Abeg, pray make I understand my mission inside the Body of Christ more fully, and make I do my duties with diligence and love. Saints Simon and Jude, pray for me. Jesus, na You I trust.