Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude 2009

THE FEAST OF ST. SIMON AND ST. JUDE

28 October Anno + Domini 2009

"The Mission Continues, the Word Spreads, the Martyrs Are Put to Death”

John 15:12-21

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

In the shadows, under the cloud of sin, the lines between right and wrong, good and evil, true and false, grow conveniently hazy. The Light shone in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. But it did hate it. He, that Light, hated by them, loved them. He loved that dark, cruel world perfectly, without cause or condition, seemingly, without reason or sense. He loved it, and gave His life for it. And yet, the world hated Him, seized, abused, and crucified Him for it. They hated Him because of that perfect love. It was too perfect, too extreme, too brilliant to behold, and therefore, too inconvenient and way too true.

And so it is that the world hates those who carry that Light, that perfect Love, the fruit of that good Sacrifice, even He, Himself, inside themselves. For they carry it not just for themselves, but also for the life of the world. Being a Christian never means being right with God on the inside, privately, secretly. It always means bursting at the seams with the joy and peace of salvation, eager to divulge this Great News of God's love for man in Christ Jesus. And thus the world hates Christians who bear the Light, who seek to change the world by offering it Life, even as it hated Christ. They are the sheep. The hateful world is the wolves. The life of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection, is lived out in His disciples. The Mission continues. The Word spreads. The martyrs are put to death.

Thus Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles and Martyrs, were sent by Jesus Christ to proclaim the Good News of God's Love to a killing world embroiled in self-absorption and in hate. But in that suffering, through that torture and sorrow, beyond that persecution, they found perfect joy and peace. What they preached was also for them. Jesus paid also for their sins, washed them clean, made them His. His mercy birthed them anew to a living hope through His resurrection and made them heirs by Grace to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, as St. Peter tells us.  Though they knew difficulty and hatred on this earth, they knew even better that it would not last, that there is for those who trust in Christ a salvation to be revealed in the last time. Tested by fire, their faith was refined, strengthened by power from on high, drawn closer to its source and fuel, and made perfect. In life and in death, He, the Light and Life of the world, He who overcame the world by loving it unto death, was their all.

And so it is still today. The Mission continues. The Word spreads. The martyrs are put to death. Confessors are mocked and ridiculed. The world drives on in its blind lust and hatred of the Truth, with its vain worship of itself and success. And some martyrs are caused bleed on the inside. Their reputations are destroyed. Their names are slandered and betrayed. They die a thousand deaths as former friends, allies, and companions turn their backs in self-preservation, in unified, cowardly hatred with the world, for a glimmering lie of worldly honor and acceptance, for popularity and success, and for the satisfaction of having things their way. 

What comfort, then, is there for these modern martyrs, these quiet men and women of conviction and truth, even you in your hostile workplaces, neighborhoods, and homes? Just this: it will not last. Beyond the persecution and the suffering, after the shallow mocking, then shall the salvation and the honor and the glory be revealed. And this: you belong to a long line of noble saints, including Apostles and Prophets, housewives and soldiers. You are God's own beloved and precious. He loves you enough to allow you to suffer for His sake. He will not let you go. He keeps you close to Himself through this suffering and perfects your faith in it. Your faith, refined by fire, will go the distance. For you, by Grace, in Mercy, for Christ's sake, are God's own, His beloved, His baptized!  Being hated by men is better any day than being loved by the devil.

Sts. Simon and Jude gave their lives in the service of Christ. They died in a foreign land that foreign people like us might know Jesus. They did not love their lives unto death. And now they have their reward. For blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth. Soon the angels will sing this also of you. In the meantime, come and eat what He gives: food for suffering saints, He Himself, in His Body and Blood, for the forgiveness of your sins. This will sustain, strengthen, and comfort you, and keep you in His kingdom, and give you the strength to endure whatever suffering comes your way.  In + Jesus' Holy and Precious Name. Amen.

Now the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, unto life everlasting.  Amen.