October 28, 2025: Two Forgotten Apostles

Catholic Homily for October 28, 2025

Two Forgotten Apostles Who Changed Everything

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Luke 6:12–16

Picture this: While everyone else was sleeping, Jesus climbed up a mountain and spent the entire night in prayer. Not just a few minutes before bed, not a quick morning devotion – He prayed all night long.

What was He praying about? He was about to make one of the most important decisions in human history: choosing His twelve apostles.

When morning came, He called His disciples together and chose twelve men to be His special representatives. Among them were two men we don’t hear much about: Simon the Zealot and Judas, son of James (who we call Jude to avoid confusion with Judas Iscariot).

Today we celebrate these two “lesser-known” apostles who prove that God can use anyone.

Simon wasn’t just called “the Zealot” as a nickname – it described his political beliefs.

Who Were the Zealots?

The Zealots were Jewish revolutionaries who believed in using violence to overthrow the Roman occupation of Israel:

• They were basically first-century terrorists
• They assassinated Roman officials and Jewish collaborators
• They believed that God would only bless Israel if they fought for their freedom
• They were willing to die for their cause

So when Jesus chose Simon, He was choosing someone with a history of hatred, violence, and political extremism.

What Jesus Saw in Simon:

Simon had passion. He had commitment. He was willing to sacrifice everything for what he believed in. Jesus didn’t throw that away – He redirected it.

Instead of fighting Romans with swords, Simon would fight sin with the Gospel. Instead of killing enemies, he would convert them. Instead of violent revolution, he would bring spiritual transformation.

Simon teaches us that zeal is good – but it needs to be purified by love.

Meet Jude: The Quiet Faithful One

Jude (also called Thaddeus) is one of the most overlooked apostles in the New Testament.

We barely hear from him at all. In fact, the only time he speaks in the Gospels is to ask Jesus one question during the Last Supper: “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”

That’s it. One question. That’s all we have of Jude’s words in Scripture.

What This Tells Us About Jude:

Jude wasn’t loud or flashy. He didn’t push himself forward. He didn’t try to be the center of attention. But he was faithful.

He stayed with Jesus through everything:

• Through the crowds and the excitement
• Through the opposition and the danger
• Through the crucifixion when others fled
• Through the confusion of the resurrection

Jude teaches us that you don’t have to be famous to be faithful. You don’t have to make noise to make a difference.

Why the Church Calls Jude the Patron of Impossible Cases

Here’s something beautiful: Even though Jude barely speaks in the Gospels, the Church has always honored him as the patron saint of desperate situations and lost causes.

Why Jude for Difficult Cases?

There are a few reasons people think this tradition developed:

His Name Was Too Close to Judas:

For centuries, Christians were afraid to pray to “Jude” because they might accidentally pray to Judas Iscariot, the betrayer. So people only turned to Jude when they were really desperate and had nowhere else to go.

His Quiet Faithfulness:

Jude stayed faithful even when things looked hopeless. When other disciples doubted or fled, Jude remained steady. So people started asking for his help when their own situations seemed impossible.

His Letter in the Bible:

The Letter of Jude talks about “contending for the faith” when everything seems to be falling apart. He encourages Christians to keep believing even when the Church faces serious problems.

Whatever the reason, millions of people have experienced God’s help through Jude’s intercession when they thought there was no hope left.

What Jesus’ All-Night Prayer Teaches Us

Before choosing His apostles, Jesus spent the entire night in prayer. This wasn’t an accident – it shows us something crucial about making important decisions.

God Builds with Unlikely Stones:

Look at who Jesus chose:

• Peter – impulsive and prone to denying Jesus
• Matthew – a tax collector hated by his own people
• Simon – a former violent revolutionary
• Jude – so quiet we barely know anything about him
• Thomas – famous for doubting

None of these men would have been obvious choices for world-changing leaders. But Jesus saw something in them that others missed.

Before Choosing, Jesus Prays:

The most important decisions deserve the most prayer. Jesus didn’t just pick the most talented or popular men. He spent time with His Father, listening for guidance about which hearts were ready to be shaped.

Before Sending, He Gathers:

Jesus didn’t send the apostles out individually. He called them together first, built them into a community, taught them, and then sent them as a team.

Mission flows from communion. We can’t give what we haven’t received. We can’t share Jesus if we don’t know Him ourselves.

What Simon and Jude Teach Us About Following Jesus

From Simon: Zeal Purified by Love

Simon’s passion didn’t disappear when he followed Jesus – it was redirected and purified.

Before Jesus:

• Passionate hatred for enemies
• Violent methods
• Earthly kingdom focus

After Jesus:

• Passionate love for souls
• Peaceful methods
• Heavenly kingdom focus

The lesson: Your intensity and commitment are good – but they need to be shaped by Jesus’ love.

From Jude: Fidelity When Hopes Seem Lost

Jude shows us that faithfulness is more important than fame.

He teaches us:

• Keep believing even when you don’t understand everything
• Stay close to Jesus even when others walk away
• Trust that God can use quiet faithfulness as much as loud leadership
• Don’t give up when your situation seems hopeless

The lesson: When your strength runs out, God’s grace begins.

October 28, 2025: Three Simple Ways

1. Pray Before Choosing – Place Names and Plans in the Lord’s Night of Prayer

Before making important decisions:

• Spend serious time in prayer
• Ask God to show you which people to trust
• Pray for the people you’re responsible for by name
• Don’t just ask for success – ask for wisdom

Jesus prayed all night before choosing His apostles. Your big decisions deserve serious prayer time too.

2. Serve Without Spotlight – Do One Hidden Act for the Church

Like Jude, find ways to help that don’t get you recognition:

• Clean something at your church that needs cleaning
• Pray for your pastor or church leaders
• Send an anonymous encouragement note to someone
• Give money without anyone knowing it came from you

God sees the hidden service and uses it more than we realize.

3. Ask the Apostles’ Help – “Saints Simon and Jude, Pray for Us”

Especially when facing impossible situations:

• Pray to Jude when you’re dealing with hopeless cases
• Ask Simon to pray that your passion would be guided by love
• Remember that these men faced persecution, doubt, and difficulty too
• Trust that they understand what you’re going through

The saints aren’t distant – they’re our older brothers who want to help us get to heaven.

God Still Calls by Name

Just like Jesus called Simon and Jude by name, He calls you by name too:

• He sees your potential even when others don’t
• He can use your passion (like Simon) even if it needs redirecting
• He values your faithfulness (like Jude) even if nobody notices
• He has work for you to do that only you can do

You don’t have to be perfect to be called. You just have to be willing to be shaped.

He Still Sends Diverse Hearts as One Body

The twelve apostles were incredibly different from each other:

• Different personalities
• Different backgrounds
• Different skills
• Different temperaments

But Jesus made them into one team with one mission.

The same thing happens in the Church today – God calls all kinds of people and weaves them together into His body.

Your church needs both the “Simons” (passionate, intense leaders) and the “Judes” (quiet, faithful servants). Both are essential.

The beautiful thing about Simon and Jude is that they prove God doesn’t just call the obvious candidates. He calls former terrorists and quiet helpers, loud leaders and faithful followers. The question isn’t whether you’re qualified – it’s whether you’re willing to let Jesus shape you and send you. Saints Simon and Jude, pray for us!

A Prayer to Saints Simon and Jude

Saints Simon and Jude, you show us that God can use anyone who is willing to follow Jesus. Simon, you teach us that passion guided by love can change the world. Jude, you show us that quiet faithfulness is just as powerful as loud leadership. Pray for us, especially when we face situations that seem impossible. Help us trust that when our strength runs out, God’s grace begins. Ask Jesus to call us by name and use our lives – whatever our background, whatever our personality – to build up His kingdom. Help us be faithful like you, and help us encourage others who feel overlooked or forgotten. Amen.

❤️ Thank You dear friend, hope this reflections touched you. 🙏 Please do not forget to share with your loved ones this october 28 homily.

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