Less Known, More Faithful!

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Eph 2: 19-22; Lk 6: 12-16

The feast of Saints Simon and Jude invites us to reflect on their place in the mission of the Church.

Though Simon and Jude are apostles, they are not popular like Peter, Matthew, John, or Paul. Not much is known about them in history either. However, the lack of historical record does not diminish their apostolic value or missionary work. Their faithfulness has withstood centuries of anonymity and invisibility. 

While a reflection on both Simon and Jude based on their historical record may not be possible, what we can be sure of is the fact that they were apostles, directly chosen by the Lord himself after he spent the night in prayer. And the text describes that ‘Jesus called them to himself.’ The nuanced aspects of the Gospel help us recognize that we cannot take their discipleship or mission ordinarily. As such, we may reflect on three aspects of their vocation and mission.

1. The first detail that attracts our attention in the Gospel is that Jesus called the apostles to himself by name. In other words, Jesus called the apostles into a personal relationship and communion with him. It is clear from the little background information that nothing else could have influenced the Lord’s choice of their names, because while Simon was known as the ‘Zealot,’ Jude/Thaddaeus must have come from a humble background, much like others. While their ordinariness would have been enough to put them down in spirit, what we look at is the fact that the Lord wanted them to be with him and to work on his side. The merciful Lord erased their past, gave them a new identity, and made them partners of the Kingdom mission. Their lives are a loud reminder that we need not be worthy enough to be called by the Lord. On the contrary, we only need to be prepared enough to respond to the call. 

2. Jesus chose them after prayer and reflection. This little detail about Jesus’ prayer shows that the Lord’s selection of the twelve is neither casual nor random. Instead, it highlights a careful and deliberate process of prayerful discernment. This minor detail speaks volumes about the nature of the vocation of the two apostles, and by extension, our vocation to be Christians as well. Our vocation, like theirs, has followed a divine plan. We are called to belong to this plan of God, which also must shape our faith and faithfulness. The two apostles invite us to remember that our discipleship becomes complete when God’s initiative is met with a due response through our lives. Viewed thus, the right prism to evaluate the success of our vocation is by measuring our fidelity to God’s will. 

3. Often enough, visibility defines success in the secular realm. However, Simon and Jude help us believe otherwise. They help us discover that fidelity, in the eyes of God, matters more than being only known to the world. In other words, it is not how the world celebrates us but how we faithfully live for God that matters. Going by worldly standards, the two apostles are less famous due to a lack of historical information available on them. However, the right perspective should be that they found their place among apostles willed and chosen by the Lord himself. Today’s first reading rightly reminds us of the ‘foundational’ roles of the apostles and prophets. Simon and Jude belong to those whose work holds things up while hardly seen outside. They remind us that the Christian goal is not to become famous but to become faithful. 

Let us pray that the examples of Simon and Jude may always inspire us to measure our lives by how faithful we are to God.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar

A Note: Dear Friends, I am sorry that I could not write reflections due to a week-long fever. I sincerely thank and appreciate your calls and texts asking after my health. Your gesture reflects your care and concern for me beyond the readership metrics. Kindly keep me in your prayers as I continue my Gospel ministry. Thanks!