Today we commemorate Sts. Simon and Jude, two of the 12 apostles of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Not much is known of them other than their being listed as apostles. We read in today's gospel of St. Luke, chapter 6, the listing of the apostles. We read: "Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James..." Over the years, to differentiate him from Judas Iscariat (the traitor), people shortened his name to Jude.
According to legend they both were martyred on the same day in Persia. Further, Jude is credited with writing the shortest book of the New Testament, The Letter of St. Jude. Over the years, devotion has developed towards St. Jude as the patron Saint of the impossible. When things get difficult or hard to resolve, people turn to him to help them in their need.
One example of this is the performer, Danny Thomas. Early on his entertainment career he was struggling. Then he turned to St. Jude and promised to build a hospital in his honor for children with cancer. He would go on to be successful in his career, and he fulfilled his promise by arranging for children with cancer: St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
As we commemorate these two followers of Jesus Christ, let us always remember that we are to always proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior, even if in difficult times. In his letter, St. Jude tells us, "Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. on those who waver, have mercy; save others by snatching them out of the fire; on others have mercy with fear, abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh."
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