Daily Catholic Lectio
Tue, 28 Oct ‘25
Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday
Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles, Feast
Ephesians 2:19–22, Luke 6:12–19
Saint of the Helpless
Today, the Church celebrates Saint Simon the Zealot and Saint Jude Thaddeus, two apostles often overshadowed by Peter, John, or Paul. Simon is remembered for his zeal — his passionate love for God’s kingdom. Jude, known as Thaddeus, is remembered as the Patron Saint of the Helpless, the Saint of Hopeless Causes. Though little is recorded about them in the Gospels, their silent faithfulness continues to inspire millions. Their feast reminds us that even those who remain unnoticed by the world can play a powerful part in God’s plan.
(a) Chosen and called by name
Luke’s Gospel tells us that before choosing the Twelve, Jesus spent the whole night in prayer. When dawn came, He called His disciples and chose twelve of them by name. Imagine that moment — from a crowd of many, Jesus turns to each one and says, “You. Come.” For Simon and Jude, that call was life-changing. They were not famous scholars or rich merchants; they were ordinary men. But in being called by name, they were reminded that before God, every person is known, loved, and chosen. This truth still stands. Each of us has been called personally by name — through baptism, through grace, through the whisper of the Spirit. We are not lost in the crowd. God remembers us individually, tenderly, and purposefully.
(b) Standing with Jesus
The Apostles were called not only to listen but to stand with Jesus. To stand with Christ meant to let go of other securities — family, comfort, and even reputation. Discipleship is not about status but about closeness. Simon and Jude stood with Jesus in His ministry, in His rejection, and ultimately in their own martyrdom. To “stand with Jesus” is to stand with the poor, the broken, the forgotten — because that is where Jesus stands even today. When we remain near Him — in prayer, in the Eucharist, in love for our neighbour — we become, like the Apostles, living signs of His presence.
(c) Three apostolic works
The Gospel also tells us that Jesus came down from the mountain and did three things: He taught the people, healed the sick, and freed them from evil spirits. These became the three essential works of the Apostles — teaching truth, healing wounds, and liberating hearts. A true follower of Jesus cannot choose only one of these. Faith without compassion is dry; compassion without truth is weak. Simon and Jude remind us that Christian mission always involves the whole person — body, mind, and soul.
(d) Saint Jude Thaddeus — Patron of the Helpless
Among these two Apostles, Saint Jude stands out as the friend of the hopeless. History tells us that after Pentecost, he preached the Gospel across the Middle East. He brought healing to King Abgar of Edessa, carrying with him a cloth on which the face of Jesus was miraculously imprinted — a sign of divine compassion for the suffering. Because of this, people began to turn to him in their most desperate needs.
When every other door seemed closed, Saint Jude opened one more — the door of hope.
He became the Saint of the Helpless, not because he solved all problems, but because he led the helpless back to trust in God.
Even today, his intercession is sought by millions around the world — by those who feel abandoned, forgotten, or without options.
(e) Three Lessons from Saint Jude
(i) Believe in the power of faith. In his brief letter in the New Testament, Jude writes: “Build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 20–21). Faith is not a feeling; it is a foundation that carries us through despair.
(ii) Stay close to Jesus. Jude was close to the Lord in every season — in joy and in suffering.
Closeness to Jesus gives meaning even to pain. When we stay near Him, even our crosses become altars of grace.
(iii) Go where God sends you. Jude travelled far from home, spreading hope wherever he went. To follow Christ means to be available — ready to go, ready to serve, ready to love. Helplessness turns into holiness when we surrender ourselves to God’s direction.
(f) The Saint of the helpless and the hope of the hopeless
Saint Jude reminds us that no prayer is too small, no person too forgotten, no situation too hopeless for God’s mercy. He teaches us that hope is not an escape from reality but a way of standing firm in faith even when reality is heavy. When we kneel before Saint Jude, we are not placing our trust in a miracle worker, but in a companion who points us back to the Lord who never abandons us.
A Prayer to Saint Jude Thaddeus
O glorious Apostle, Saint Jude Thaddeus,
close friend and kinsman of Jesus,
in the shadow of His Sacred Heart I greet you.
You are the helper of the helpless,
the friend of those who have nowhere else to turn.
Through your powerful intercession,
obtain for me faith when I am discouraged,
courage when I am afraid,
and hope when I am lost.
May I, like you, stay close to Jesus
and bring light to those in darkness.
Amen.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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