Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Feast of Saints Simon & Jude, Apostles (first century), martyrs: Apostles-link, Apostle-link Sierra & Wikipedia-link Sierra, & Apostle-link Juliett & Wikipedia-link Juliett.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Jude is so named by Luke & Acts. Matthew & Mark call him Thaddeus. He is not mentioned elsewhere in the Gospels, except, of course, where all the apostles are mentioned. Simon is mentioned on all four lists of apostles. On two of them he is called "the Zealot." The Zealots were a Jewish sect that represented an extreme of Jewish nationalism. As in the case of all the apostles except for (Ss.) Peter, James, & John, we are faced with men who are really unknown, & we are struck by the fact that their holiness is simply taken to be a gift of Christ. Holiness does not depend on human merit, culture, personality effort, or achievement. It is entirely God's creation & gift. God needs no Zealots to bring about the kingdom by force. Jude, like all the saints, is the saint of the impossible: Only God can create his divine life in human beings. And God will to do so, for all of us.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

After the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, the apostles went to different places preaching the Gospel of Christ. St. Simon & St. Jude are two of the Twelve Apostles. According to tradition, they were martyred in Persia. Simon, known as "the Zealous" preached the Gospel in Egypt. He later joined St. Jude & went with him to Persia. St. Jude is the author of the Letter of St. Jude, warning Christian converts against false teaching & immorality. Jude probably was crucified in Persia, after having evangelized Egypt & Mauritania. He is popularly venerated as the "patron of impossible cases." In the Gospel, St. Jude asked Christ, "Master, what happened that you will reveal yourself to us & not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, & my father will love him & we will come to him & make our dwelling with him" (cf. Jn, 14:22-23). This question & answer reminds us of the indwelling of the Holy Trinity in our souls.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Mark, chapters one & two (of sixteen).

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter two, verses nineteen thru twenty-two;
Psalm Nineteen, verses two thru five;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter six, verses twelve thru sixteen.