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Glory and praise to you, O God our Father in sending us your Son Jesus Christ who calls us to be his disciples and collaborators without exception, regardless of our backgrounds; how wonderful it is to ponder on this feast of his two Apostles, St. Simon and St. Jude that it has always been people who interested him, not social classes or labels!
Jesus went up the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles.
Luke 6:12-13
Simon who was called the Zealot came in tenth place according to Luke's narration of their order of calling followed by Judas the son of James also known as Jude to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot the betrayer. How wonderful it is to meditate on the call of Simon the Zealot - if he was really a member of those nationalist Jews against Roman rule in Israel, that puts him directly opposite, a world apart from Matthew the tax collector who was a collaborator of the Romans! It is so amazing, Lord Jesus that you have united these men together despite their varied backgrounds and marked differences!
And so, we pray, too, that we may transcend our differences with our other co- workers in your vineyard, that despite our individualities, we come into unity in your name, in your mission, in your call, Lord Jesus Christ.
Transform the "zeal" burning in us in our previous preoccupations and advocacies to become a "burning zeal" for you and your gospel of salvation; may we see more of you, Jesus, our Caller than your call to unite us in the mission you have entrusted us. Amen.
