Today as we celebrate the feast of St Simon and St Jude, Marg Gobius, the Leader of School Evangelisation at MacKillop College reads from the Gospel of Luke (6:12-19) in which Jesus went out into the hills to pray, and he spent the whole night in prayer to God and when day came, he picked out twelve of his disciples to be his apostles.

Marg says, on this Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, we turn our hearts to a simple yet profound moment in the life of Jesus. The Gospel tells us that before he chose his twelve apostles, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray. He spent the whole night in prayer to God.

The Son of God, who held the universe in his hands, felt the need to connect deeply with his Father before making such a crucial decision. He wasn’t just picking twelve people for a job; he was choosing the very foundation of our church, the ones who would carry his message forward after his ascension.

From this night of prayer, Jesus came down and called his disciples to him and he chose those apostles. And among them were Simon, called the Zealot, and Judas, son of James.

What do we know about these two men? We know very little, really. We know that Simon was a Zealot. This means he was a man who likely believed in armed resistance against the Roman occupiers.

Jude was an apostle whose name is often confused with Judas Iscariot.

So, Simon and Jude were not powerful or famous men. They were ordinary people, with their own passions and fears, their own strengths and weaknesses.

But Jesus saw something in them. He saw their potential for faithfulness, for courage, for love. He saw what they could become with his guidance. He didn’t choose them because they were perfect; he chose them because he was perfect, and he saw his light shining in them.

The Gospel passage continues, showing the result of their choice to follow. As Jesus and the apostles came down from the mountain, they were met by a great crowd of people who came to hear his teaching and to be healed. The apostles, including Simon and Jude, were now part of this ministry. They were no longer just followers; they were now active participants in God’s saving work.

So, on this Feast day, what actions can we take from this passage?

First, let us remember the importance of prayer. Let us bring our choices and challenges to God in prayer, always.

Second, let us be mindful that Jesus calls ordinary people to do extraordinary things. He calls us, with our imperfections, to be his disciples today. Let us not be afraid to answer that call, no matter how unworthy we may feel.

And finally, Marg says, let us follow the example of Saints Simon and Jude by being active participants in God’s work. Let us serve others, share the good news of Christ, and to bring healing and hope to the world.