Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 28, 2024
Saints Simon and Jude, The Apostles
28th October 2024 (Monday)
Psalter: Proper
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Ephesians 2:19-22
Brethren: You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5 (R. 5a)
R/. Their sound goes forth through all the earth.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 6:12-19
In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Monday – Saints Simon and Jude, The Apostles
Guidelines: We all belong to the one house of God whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. Apostles are the foundation on whose faith this dwelling place is built
1. Saints Simon and Jude are celebrated on 28 October. These are two among the Twelve Apostles. Simon was an ex-zealot and Jude was a cousin of the Lord. The first thing to note is that among many disciples the twelve apostles were specially chosen and named as apostles. Thereupon, the apostles lived with him, were taught by him, and accompanied him.
2. In sum, they shared their entire life with him. They enjoyed personal intimacy with him. They were specially trained by him in wisdom and faith. They listened to him attentively. They were enlightened and guided. They were nourished and strengthened.
3. What marks them is while their master was alive with them physically, they witnessed his life and mission personally. After his death, they became witnesses to the same life and mission of their Lord. They were so touched by their master and empowered by the Holy Spirit that they bore witness to him even by their martyrdom.
4. Their faith and mission are our rich heritage. We are well built on the foundation of their faith. We are reminded that we are all fellow citizens in the same household of God. Jesus himself is the cornerstone. We can be sure that this spiritual structure will not crumble or collapse because it is God’s own structure built on the apostles.
5. Their life of faith and mission also indicates to us that we are also sharers of the rich legacy. We also shoulder the same mission of proclaiming God’s word and healing sicknesses, both the exterior and the interior.
Practice: We are also called and sent to continue the same mission of the apostles. We need to be powerful proclaimers and healers like the master and his apostles. But does power come out from us whenever we are on his mission?
