The Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles
Ephesians 2:19-22  +  Luke 6:12-16
October 28, 2016

“…with Christ Jesus Himself as the capstone.”

Those who receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders strengthen the communion of the Church by living as an image of Christ, who gave his life for the Church.  The life of the ordained minister, like that of the married person, is, first and foremost, relational.  Through this relationship between himself and Christ’s spouse, the Church, the one who is ordained administers the sacraments of the Church.

This sacramental life and ministry was first entrusted by Jesus to twelve apostles,  twelve men whom Jesus chose from among his many disciples and sent (the word “apostle” means “one who is sent”) into the world to establish the Church.  Jesus did not intend for the apostles’ ministry to die with them, however, just as married couples do not simply receive the love of their sacrament for their own sakes, but in order to extend it to future generations.  The apostles, in turn, passed on their sacramental ministry to other men, a new generation of apostles, so that the Church would not be established through the sacraments once for all, but continually sustained and nurtured as well.

On this feast of Saints Simon and Jude, we ought to pray to them for their intercession for all bishops, especially our own.  Through their prayers we draw closer to Christ our High Priest, from whose side on the life-giving Cross all sacramental grace flows.