What is He thinking

Greetings on this the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Readings: Eph 2:19-22; PS 19:2-3, 4-5; Lk 6:12-16
Notes: We near the Solemnity of All Saints.

But first we remember two Apostles who are not as well known.

Not THAT Simon.
Not THAT Judas.

Just two very unlikely picks, a radical and a relation.

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.

The Father picked his Twelve and Jesus named them.
In this age of snarkism, I wonder if Jesus said to himself, “What is He thinking!?”

• Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew
• Sons of Thunder James, and his brother John
• Friends Philip, and Bartholomew (Nathanael),
• Matthew (Levi), Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus (the Lesser),

• Simon who was called a Zealot,
• and Judas the son of James (called Jude or Thaddeus),

• and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Thinks turned out pretty good, I think.

The Franciscans say it well:

Reflection

As in the case of all the apostles except for Peter, James and John, we are faced with men who are really unknown, and we are struck by the fact that their holiness is simply taken to be a gift of Christ. He chose some unlikely people: a former Zealot, a former (crooked) tax collector, an impetuous fisherman, two “sons of thunder,” and a man named Judas Iscariot.

It is a reminder that we cannot receive too often. Holiness does not depend on human merit, culture, personality, effort, or achievement. It is entirely God’s creation and gift. God needs no Zealots to bring about the kingdom by force. Jude, like all the saints, is the saint of the impossible: Only God can create his divine life in human beings. And God wills to do so, for all of us.

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-simon-and-jude

First reading
you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm
Their message goes out through all the earth.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge.

Alleluia Verse
We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you.

Click to access te-deum-prayer.pdf

Gospel Portion
Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.

When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,

Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,

and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

and He picks YOU.

You might say, “What is he thinking?“.

I point you back to the first reading today:

Brothers and sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Eph 2:19-22

God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry