I went to Mass on campus yesterday and it was the feast of SS. Simon and Jude. St. Jude is on my rolodex and I have "hopeless cause" miracles in our life that I credit to his intercession. St. Simon, however, I can't remember ever praying to! I'm not even sure in all honesty why the two are grouped together for this particular feast day.
In the homily, the priest spoke about St. Jude on his own, and then about Simon (the Zealot) as the first part of this pair. But then he brought in St. Matthew to show just how opposite ends of the political spectrum these two holy apostles were. "It would be like one guy wearing a MAGA hat, and the other who is completely opposed (to Trump)." Or maybe like the way the Jews and Samaritans despised one another.
It's a good point worthy of reflection, though. Simon was a Zealot, a political faction of Jews who despised being under Roman occupation and sometimes resorted to violence to achieve their political ends. And then you have Matthew, who is literally regarded as a traitorous Jew WORKING for the Romans...collecting taxes, no less! It would be an understatement to say that it was probably hard to trust him, or figure out why Jesus would call him.
In the apostolic family, Simon and Matthew are both brothers and saints. They grew the Church and achieved sancticty working side by side whereas on the surface they should have been at each other's throats! This is the wisdom of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit who brings the seemingly disparagent parties together in order to upend our presuppositions.
Hate your enemy? No, love your enemy. Curse those who stone you? No, pray for those who stone you. Save your life? No, lose it in order to gain it. The Lord is a storehouse of paradox, and he also lives it out in who he calls to witness to him.
You may be a trad warrior, or a traitorous defector for unhholy causes--but the Lord can remake you both. He may even call you to work together for the Kingdom, side by side, not just tolerating each other, but learning to love the way he loves--even when it is revolting to our political sensibilities and may stir a righteous indignation within us.
But the Lord knows what He is about. He does not make mistakes. It is a great grace that He has called you to Himself. We are not meant to do the work on our own!
Ss. Simon, Jude, and Matthew...pray for us!
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