Just as in everyday life, you can find people who do have significant places in the society of their time but who have little center-stage presence. These are the people who just go about their business, seeking to accomplish what is expected of them. You know people like this. Indeed, you yourself may be such a person.
Today the Church honors two of the truly "chosen" in our family history: Sts. Simon and Jude. You will find their name listed among the Apostles (Luke 6:12-16). You might read the list of names closely to discover whose name you thought might be there ... like St. Mark, St. Luke, St. Paul!!!!
Simon (notice there were two Simons) and Jude (notice that there were two Judases in addition to the two Simons) were chosen by Jesus to be among his closest collaborators. We can assume that these two men did there "thing" as Apostles, going out and carrying to others the message and teachings of Jesus Christ. What we do see about that that we can recall happily is that they did not feel the need to write accounts of their labors. These were men who found ministry in being present to people wherever they went.
What do they offer you and me today? Simplicity. Just doing their tasks. Commitment to the life they accepted, living out the calling brought them ever close to Jesus Christ. Perhaps these men may be like many of us today: men and woman who go about the responsibilities that come to us with our vocations, whatever they might be. Most of us, thankfully, never make the front pages of the local paper. For many of us the only time we make the newspaper is when the community is notified that our lives on this earth have ended. As with the lesser know Apostles and their works, perhaps our work is known only by a few but among that few will be Jesus Christ. Who could want it otherwise?
Please note that absence is necessary again. Duties with the Middle Atlantic Lieutenancy of the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre will be taking up my days from now until Sunday afternoon in Baltimore.
