RBWords

     The celebration of the feast of the two apostles - Simon "the zealot" and Thaddeus Jude, patron saint of hopeless cases - is a reminder to us that to be a member of the household of God is to be found in very interesting company.  Simon is spoken of in the gospels as a "member of the zealot party."  This was a movement to expel the Roman occupation by force.  History tells us that all efforts of this sort in Palestine were brutally suppressed by the Romans.  Jude (also referred to as "Thaddeus") became known as the patron saint of hopeless cases.  Now, he's a guy I could be comfortable with.  Revolutionaries like Simon can be difficult company.  The one thing these two have in common besides their role as members of the Twelve is that they were martyred!

     If sometimes we wonder how and why a particular guy is called to be a bishop, the mystery of it all began with Jesus!  The Twelve were truly a "motley krewe!"  The leader was impulsive and tried to deny even knowing Jesus.  Another actually betrayed him to the Romans and religious authorities.  Two others were angling for positions of influence in the "kingdom." Another worked as a tax collector for the Romans.  What they all had in common is that Jesus called them to be his first collaborators and he has continued to call people in that way whom we might not have chosen!    But they, like us, are all members of the Communion of Saints and members of the household of God.  I look forward to hearing their stories!  AMEN