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The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Feast of Sts. Simon & Jude, Apostles, 28 October 2022 Ephesians 2:19-22 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Luke 6:12-16
It has always been your desire, O God our Father that we may all be one in you that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ your Son who had come to call and gather first his Twelve Apostles who prefigured the Church representing all the peoples of the world.
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 are also being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22
What a beautiful way to cap this week with these words reminding us of our great honor in being called in Jesus Christ to build up his body the Church here on earth, of being a part of the bigger whole of peoples gathered as one in God; may we realize that you call everyone - regardless of color or gender or status or whatever differences we may all have just like the Twelve who were united in Christ.
Help us, dear Jesus, to imitate your two Apostles, Sts. Simon and Jude whose feast we celebrate today; fill our hearts with the zeal and ardent love for you and your Church like Simon called the Zealot - whether he was in fact a member of such political party or not, his love for you must be so evident that he came to be known as a Zealot; in this time when Catholics are declining in numbers in going to church and even in professing their faith, may we be filled wit enthusiasm in making you known O Jesus especially in our actions and celebrations.
Grant us also the strength, clarity and courage like that of St. Jude Thaddeus in dealing with the many contradictions of the world we live in today as Catholics and Christians: "But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And convince some, who doubt..." (Jude 20-22).
Bless us, dearest Jesus, through the help St. Simon and St. Jude, to rediscover the beauty of our Christian faith and of our Catholic Church by working hard to build it up without tiring through our silent and peaceful witnessing of the Gospel. Amen.
