St. Jude is considered the patron of impossible cases, and his partner St. Simon is one of these impossible people. All we know about Simon is that he was called a Zealot (Lk 6:15). Zealots felt the best way to deal with the Roman government was by violence. Today we would call Zealots "terrorists."
Jesus takes Simon the terrorist and commands him to love his enemies and to turn the other cheek if anyone terrorizes him (Lk 6:27-29). How could a terrorist accept the call to non-violence? It could only happen by witnessing the ultimate example of non-violence: Jesus' death on the cross. Jesus could have called for more than twelve legions of angels to defend Him (Mt 26:53), but He willingly laid down His life (Jn 10:18). Jesus could have come off that cross, and then what would His persecutors do? But then what would we do had not Jesus saved us by His death on the cross? Jesus turned the other cheek to be slapped, put out the other hand to be nailed, and turned the other side to be pierced. Jesus did the impossible.
Almost two-thousand years after Jesus' coming, much of the world still is composed of terrorists rather than peacemakers. After thousands of years of accelerating death and destruction, we still think violence is the answer. When will we let Jesus do the impossible in our hearts?
| PRAYER: | Jesus, may I fight violence and evil with love and good (Rm 12:20-21). |
| PROMISE: | "You form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the Capstone." –Eph 2:20 |
| PRAISE: | Through the intercession of St. Jude, Alva was delivered from a difficult legal situation at work. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College